February 7, 2012

Page 1

PRIMAVERA hi

35° |

lo

TUESDAY

12°

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


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