Talk of the Sound

CSEA Files Complaint Against New Rochelle Over Hiring of New Section 8 Administrator

John Imburgia — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 18:37:10 +0000

Local 860, which represents CSEA members in New Rochelle, has filed a complaint against the City. The complaint was filed with the New York State Public Relations Board (PERB) on January 22, 2013.

Citizens Heard on Echo Bay Tax Giveaway, Lack of Police Gun Contract, 2nd Amendment

Robert Cox — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:56:57 +0000

Long-time Davis Principal William E. Harrell To Retire After 50 Years With New Rochelle Schools

Robert Cox — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 02:43:22 +0000

NEW ROCHELLE, NY -- Long-time Davis Principal William E. Harrell announced his plans to retire at the end of the current school year in a letter addressed to Davis Parents.

Harrell has worked in the New Rochelle School District for half a century, most of that time at Davis Elementary School.

"The New Rochelle City School District has been an important part of my life for the past 50 years," wrote Harrell. "Davis School has been the special "highlight" of my experience in the school district for the past 32
years."

Harrell described his mixed emotions in formally submitting his letter of retirement to the District effective June 30, 2013.

Astorino Appoints New Rochelle FIrefighter To Westchester County Human Rights Commission

Talk of the Sound News — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 18:19:20 +0000

Ever Wonder Why It's February and New Rochelle Has Still Not Picked Up Your Christmas Tree?

Robert Cox — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 20:19:01 +0000

Fruit Bandit a "No Show" This Weekend, Story Goes National on Drudge Report

Robert Cox — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 22:13:56 +0000

Should NRPD Take Over School Security in New Rochelle?

Robert Cox — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 17:28:56 +0000

Fruit Bandit Strikes Again: Multiple Cars Damaged By Fruit In New Rochelle

EyeOnNewRoc — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 11:30:39 +0000

NEW ROCHELLE, NY -- The Fruit Bandit has struck again.

Do You Support Barnard School Having Armed Security?

MrTalk — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 13:44:46 +0000

Map: Where are the Journal News employees in your neighborhood?

Robert Cox — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 17:39:30 +0000

The map indicates the addresses of all Journal News Employees in the New York Tri-State area. Each dot represents an individual Journal News employee -- a reporter, editor or staffer. The data does not include freelancers — reporters or photographers — which can be hired without being an employee. Being included in this map does not mean the individual at a specific location is a responsible reporter or editor, just that they are a reporter or editor.

Data for all categories is included, but certain information is not available on an individual basis.

To create the map, Talk of the Sound submitted Google searches for the names and addresses of all Journal News employees in the New York Tri-State area. By state law, the information is public record.

Readers are still putting together records and could not immediately provide some data. The map will be updated when that data is released.

UPDATE: The Journal News has removed their gun map. Before you ask. "No, we are not taking down our map".

My Washington Examiner Op-Ed is now up: Why I will not be taking down my map of Journal News employees

View Journal News Employees in a larger map

New Rochelle to Reorganize Police Department, Captains To Become Assistant Police Commissioners

Robert Cox — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 18:44:19 +0000

New Rochelle Firefighters Battle Working House Fire 55 Kress Avenu, 5 People Homeless

EyeOnNewRoc — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 11:26:48 +0000

Video report below

NEW ROCHELLE, NY -- An early morning two-alarm fire in New Rochelle left five people homeless today. There were no reports of civilian or fire fighter injuries although fire fighter had trouble with smoke inhalation. He was checked by EMS on scene and released.

New Rochelle Fire Department responded to a call of an electrical fire at 5:50 a.m. Monday morning at 55 Kress Avenue. First on the scene was Ladder 12 which reported a 10-75 alarm of fire, a fire in the attic area of the roof. Flames were through the roof of the three-family house. Five people living in the house evacuated themselves safely.

New Rochelle High School's Naughty Librarian Pleads Guilty to Reduced Charges

Robert Cox — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 13:07:56 +0000

New Rochelle Schools Superintendent Slams CBS Reporter: "Lou Young is a known bottom feeder!"

Robert Cox — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 03:37:55 +0000

Would You Support Bramson Run for County Exec?

MrTalk — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 18:38:41 +0000

Which New Rochelle High School Team Would Win Head-to-Head Match Up?

MrTalk — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 18:20:23 +0000

New Rochelle Paramedics Responding to Cardiac Arrest Overwhelmed by Flying Maggots and Stench from Cat Waste

Robert Cox — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 00:21:32 +0000

NEW ROCHELLE, NY -- Paramedics from Transcare, responding to a report of a 70-year old woman in cardiac arrest along with the New Rochelle Fire Department, were forced to retreat due to strong odors from cat waste and flying maggots which engulfed them as they entered the house. The two paramedics remained in the house for several minutes but exited after they determined the woman had expired. Initial reports were that 18 cats were living in the house but this has not yet been confirmed.

The paramedics described an overwhelming stench from cat urine and cat feces, an odor that neighbors have been complaining about for years. The odor could clearly be detected 50 feet outside the house.

Scale Model of Heritage Homes, Replacement for Hartley Houses

Robert Cox — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 23:07:06 +0000

I was in the New Rochelle development office at City Hall yesterday and found this really cool scale model on the conference table.

Do You Support the Recommendations of the New Rochelle-Iona Joint Committee? on Student Housing?

MrTalk — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 22:50:29 +0000

Hurricane Sandy Wreaks Havoc on New Rochelle -- Flooding, Power Outages, Trees Down, Lines Down

Talk of the Sound News — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 20:43:37 +0000

View Flickr Slideshow (1,300+ photos).

Reports from the Field

New Rochelle Parks Worker Busted On The Job With Heroin, Oxycotin and Urine After Crashing City Vehicle

Robert Cox — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 20:08:17 +0000

Keith Neal Bjorkman, 33, of 184 Harding in New Rochelle, NY was arrested by New Rochelle police on October 2, 2012. Bjorkman, a worker for the City of New Rochelle Department of Parks and Recreation, was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance-7th, a misdemeanor, and Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle-3rd, also a misdemeanor. He was released the same day on $250 cash bail and given a return date of October 16, 2012. His next court date is October 30, 2012.

Bjorkman crashed a city vehicle, a 2008 White Hino Dump Truck, into a light pole at Lincoln Park. Police responded to the scene. A search of the vehicle turned up a bag inside of which police found glassine envelopes containing a white powder, pills and a container holding a yellow liquid.

Why Did The New Rochelle Board of Education Fire An Employee for Drunk Driving Then Replace Him With Another Drunk Driver?

Robert Cox — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 22:26:02 +0000

On September 17, 2007 Gary Iarocci was arrested for drunk driving by the New Rochelle Police Department. He was convicted of Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated First Offense on November 9, 2007. He was held overnight after his arrest, paid a $500 fine and given a Conditional Discharge. Iarocci has since passed away.

Iarocci was fired from his position as a Motor Equipment Operator with the New Rochelle Board of Education. Ironically, his replacement, James Vincent Bonanno had been convicted on an identical drunk driving charge two years earlier.

Mandarin Meltdown II: Former New Rochelle Schools Mandarin Teacher Threatens Legal Action Against Talk of the Sound

Robert Cox — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 03:55:34 +0000

In April 2012, Talk of the Sound reported on a language teacher working at Ward School and Albert Leonard Middle School who reportedly became hysterical after she was informed she would not be retained as a teacher in the 2012-13 school year.

Hui Altman was initially told she would remain as a teacher until the end of the school year but after her outburst she was removed from her position that same day. Talk of the Sound reported on the incident based on police reports and information from sources at the school district.

In a subsequent phone call to Talk of the Sound, Altman denied much of the information in the police reports. We offered to publish an article based on her version of events which we did on September 1, 2012.

Yet Another New Rochelle Schools Employee Arrested, Vicious Assault Leaves Man and Woman Seriously Injured, Second Man Found Unconscious with Fractured Skull

Robert Cox — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 21:12:35 +0000

Willie R. Clark, 44, of 16 Locust Avenue in New Rochelle, NY was arrested last October and later plead guilty to 3 charges of Assault in the 3rd Degree after he and another man brutally assault three people. All three victims were taken to Sound Shore Medical Center with serious injuries including one victim with a fractured skull.

The incident occurred on October 2, 2011. Clark and a second unidentified man, both black, got into an altercation with three white college-age patrons at Spectators Sports Pub & Restaurant located at 219 North Avenue in downtown New Rochelle, NY. As a result of the altercation, the five people involved were expelled from Spectators. Clark and the second man came upon the same three people a few blocks away, near the corner of North Avenue and Main Street, and charged at them with fists flying according to New Rochelle Police.

After his arrest, Clark blamed his arrest on his race, telling police "we let these white kids get drunk and do 'whatever the fuck they want" and that "white is right".

New Rochelle Schools Electrician Pleads Guilty to Sex Charge Involving a Minor

Robert Cox — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 19:34:39 +0000

Patrick Clark, 42, of 50 Highland Avenue, New Rochelle, New York pled guilty to Attempted Disseminating Indecent Material to Minors in the First Degree, a class “E” Felony, on October 16th before Judge Susan Cacace in Westchester County Court in White Plains, NY.

The case was adjourned to January 15, 2013 for sentence. Clark faces a maximum sentence of four years in state prison.

Assistant District Attorney Toni Ann Gagliardi of the Investigations Division prosecuted the case.

Another New Rochelle School District Employee Arrested; Isaac Young Teaching Assistant Charged with Assault with a Weapon

Robert Cox — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 19:21:24 +0000

Isaac Young Teaching Assistant Nancy Moreno, 48, of 373 Webster Avenue in New Rochelle was arrested by New Rochelle police following an incident at a residence on Lincoln Avenue where she allegedly assaulted a woman with a closet rod.

Moreno was charged with Assault 2nd Degree, assault with intent to cause physical injury with a weapon, a Class D Felony.

The incident on the evening of September 29th began as a dispute over a dog defecating on private property. Moreno was arrested at the scene after a call to New Rochelle police.

GETTING RESULTS: Huguenot Hills Begins Process of Installing Long-Missing Roof Drainage System in New Rochelle

Robert Cox — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 22:32:15 +0000

After more than eight years, the Huguenot Hills Condominium Association has finally shown signs of undertaking work to rectify a serious roof drainage system which has caused dangerous road conditions for drivers and a severe icicle problem for pedestrians each winter.

The problems at the condo complex first came to the public attention following a series of reports by Talk of the Sound.

Bob Young, the builder of Huguenot Hills, failed to install a rooftop drainage system -- a series of interconnected gutters and leaders -- on about 80% of the front of the buildings which make up the luxury condo structure. Young somehow managed to to get a New Rochelle building inspector, John Caldararo, to sign off on the building's Certificate of Occupancy despite blindingly clear violations related to the missing rooftop drainage system.

New Rochelle City Council Votes 7-0 to Deny Cabaret License to Puerto Rican Restaurant

Robert Cox — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 00:46:04 +0000

The New Rochelle City Council voted 7-0 to deny a controversial application cabaret license to Siete Ocho Siete, a Puerto Rican restaurant that opened over a year ago after extensive renovations predicated on the expectation that a cabaret license would be approved without question.

In public discussions last night, council members raised concerns that the parking plan proposed by the ownership of Siete Ocho Siete did not meet minimum requirements.

"I think we all were in agreement that the application provided by 787 was insufficient as to our requirements for a special use cabaret license," Coucilman Jared Rice told Talk of the Sound.

The plan, according to knowledgeable sources inside City Hall, designated the entire parking lot at the strip mall where the restaurant is located to meeting parking requirements. The restaurant lease, however, designates a limited number of parking spaces to the restaurant.

GETTING RESULTS: Civil Service Commission Acknowledges Errors But Questions Persist

John Imburgia — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 21:45:44 +0000

On October 11, 2012, a story was published by Talk of the Sound which indicated that "several violations of law may have occurred" with the provisional appointment of Kevin McKenna to the position of Property Code Inspector in the City's Building Department. According to City records, Mr. McKenna was hired on July 28, 2012.

Records obtained through a FOIL request by Talk of the Sound indicate that in April of 2012, Michael Freimuth, the appointing authority for the Building Department, advised Civil Service Administrator Y. Jeanett Medina that a vacancy needed to filled for a Property Code Inspector. The position is in the competitive class which means that it must be filled by examination. However, according to the records, the position was filled provisionally. In other words, no test was given.

Civil Service Watch: Recent Hiring of New Rochelle Property Code Inspector May Have Involved Multiple Violations of NYS Law

John Imburgia — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 01:32:56 +0000

At a recent meeting of the New Rochelle Civil Service Commission, Civil Service Administrator Ms. Y. Jeanett Medina inaccurately stated the circumstances of the recent hiring of a Property Code Inspector for the Building Department raising questions as whether the City of New Rochelle violated New York State law in filling the position this past summer.

At a September 28, 2012 meeting of the NRCSC, Medina advised the board of the probationary appointment of Mr. Kevin McKenna as a Property Code Inspector for the Building Department. She stated that Mr. McKenna was "originally appointed on July 30, 2012" from the lists and claims "he was taken off a list we have right now" and, for a third time, states that McKenna was "was taken off a list".

A review of records obtained by Talk of the Sound under the Freedom of Information Law does not indicate that McKenna was hired off a civil service list, a conclusion later confirmed by a senior administrative official appointed by New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson.