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TUESDAY
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february 7, 2012
t h e i n de pe n de n t s t u de n t n e w spa pe r of s y r acuse , n e w yor k
INSIDENEWS
INSIDEOPINION
Code confusion The Student Association
Walking warning The Daily Orange Editorial
confirmed the existence of an emergency reserve fund at Monday’s meeting. Page 3
INSIDEPULP
It’s time for a change The Syracuse Stage performs
Board urges students to practice safe methods while crossing streets. Page 4
On the
its first show of the semester, “Caroline, or Change,” to the tune of a positive note. Page 9
record
Recording of detectives’ interview proves Tomaselli first named UConn as road game where alleged abuse took place changed his story upon learn-
By Michael Cohen
T
ing Connecticut and Syracuse
STAFF WRITER
he audio recording of
did not play during the 2001-02
an interview between
season. He has since identified
t w o Syracuse police detec-
Syracuse’s game at Pittsburgh
tives and Zach Tomaselli,
on Jan. 22, 2002, as the game that
the third accuser of Bernie
he attended.
Fine, reveals Tomaselli
The portion of the recording
initially claimed he was
in which Tomaselli discussed
molested on a road trip
Connecticut with the detectives
to attend a Syracuse
was played for The Daily Orange
basketball game at Con-
on Jan. 27 with the approval
necticut, not a game at
of Onondaga County District
Pittsburgh.
Attorney William Fitzpatrick.
Tomasel li
later
SEE TOMASELLI PAGE 6
photo illustration by ryan maccammon | asst. photo editor
INSIDESPORTS
Basketball encyclopedia Women’s basketball assistant
coach Vonn Read is unparalled in his basketball knowledge. Page 20
fine a llegations
Third accuser reports filing restraint By Marwa Eltagouri ASST. NEWS EDITOR
Zach Tomaselli, the third man to bring forth allegations of molestation against Bernie Fine, is reporting to have obtained a temporary order of protection from harassment against the former associate men’s basketball coach Monday. The filing of the order was reported by The Post-Standard on Monday. That same day, The Post-Standard reported that Tomaselli later told reporters he fabricated the documents. Controversy continues to surround the issue, and Tomaselli has spoken out against The Post-Standard’s second article. Filing a knowingly false complaint is a criminal offense subject to prosecution. Tomaselli, 23, of Lewiston, Maine, emailed what he said is a copy of the order to The Daily Orange. In the document, he said Fine repeatedly called him on both his home phone and cell-
SEE RESTRAINING ORDER PAGE 6
Developers work to solve tax-related problems with bookstore, gym By Nick Smith
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Developers for a new bookstore and gym complex on University Avenue, which will also include retail stores, have drawn up a plan they hope can solve tax-related issues that delayed construction, said Cameron Group LLC partner Thomas Valenti. Since talks about a new complex started in 2006, Syracuse University, the Cameron Group and the Syracuse city administration have been at odds over how the complex would be taxed. The property for the complex is owned by SU and has tax-exempt status, but the university plans to lease it to the Cameron Group for construction. Upon completion, the Cameron
Group will re-lease the fitness center and bookstore to the university. Once the property is leased, it loses its tax exempt status, according to a March 7, 2011, article in The Daily Orange. Valenti said he and his associates created a proposal for a payment in lieu of taxes agreement, which is a possible solution to keep the portion of the complex used by the university tax-exempt. The structured tax payment will compensate for the tax revenue the city would lose. “We are going to meet with the Syracuse Industrial Development Authority on February 21 seeking its approval for our PILOT agreement,” Valenti said. Though the agreement would allow for the bookstore and fitness
“If the proposal passes, I hope that we can begin in June and that we could open the bookstore and fitness center for the fall 2013 semester.” Thomas Valenti
CAMERON GROUP LLC PARTNER
center to remain tax-exempt, the city would still generate tax revenue
from the parts of the complex used for retail. Kathleen Joy, Syracuse Common councilor-at-large and chair of the Finance, Taxation and Assessment Committee, said if the agreement is approved by SIDA, it will then be voted on by the Common Council. “This project is good for our economy, creates jobs, revenue and brings students down off the hill and the public toward other university-area businesses,” said Joy, who has been a proponent of the project since its inception. The complex, which will cost approximately $20 million to complete, would be 54,400 square feet, with the fitness center occupying 47,700 square feet. The university
plans to completely move the bookstore in the Schine Student Center to the new complex. As of now, there are no plans for what will be done with the space in Schine. “If the proposal passes, I hope that we can begin in June and that we could open the bookstore and fitness center for the fall 2013 semester,” Valenti said. The complex was originally expected to be complete by summer 2011, but it was hindered by the tax dilemma. Valenti said the nature of the PILOT agreement being proposed on Feb. 21 could not be released, as it has not yet been approved by SIDA and the city council. The details will be made public information afterward. nxsmith@syr.edu