To The Editor: Most recently the Riverdale Review put out an article with partial truths dealing with the six local residents who tried to run for the board of non-profit, Woodlawn Taxpayers’ Association (WTA). Before, it was the Bronx News, who retracted Ms. Mary Lauro’s two articles, and now here pops up a few more. Now the Bronx Press is claiming the people who ran and lost must have worked for some type of development company—because God forbid people just got sick of these bullying and scare tactics to keep people quiet! These articles aren’t true, and they’re designed to cripple anyone who has their own opinions! Lauro’s articles personally attacked the six local Woodlawn residents, and one of their wives—who had nothing
to do with the election. She even went so far as to insinuate wanting a change in the community and wanting to help out must mean one is somehow racist. These reporters aren’t talking to the former candidates they slander and lie about. They’re hearing a one sided bias story. Lauro, the Wakefield Taxpayers’ President, isn’t a member of the WTA, as stated by the Riverdale Review. However, she is a good friend of Christine Sheridan, the president of the WTA, who delegated more questions to Lauro during the April meeting than any member on the board. Ms. Christine Sheridan was incapable of answering the most basic of questions, and whose solution to everything was, “Call 311!” Instead of spending her time spreading lies and scaring our senior citizens into
Charter school barely fills seats
Conitnued from Page 10 will be encouraged to develop international connections by interacting with partner schools. Officials have lined up two schools in each Canada and Mexico, and one each in India and France to become TI international partners. Authorities said the initiative would allow students to breach physical barriers, expand their global connections and enhance their understanding of cultural differences. At last week’s 50th Precinct Community Council meeting, a nearby resident turned up to express her fears about the addition of more teenagers in the alreadycongested area. She said there is already up to 8,000 students within a three-block
radius of the school. “We’re just a little concerned about the influx of more teenagers into the area,” she said. “They apparently don’t have a lunchroom or a gym and so these kids are going to be crazy by the time they get out. It’s a long day and we’re just really concerned about security.” Commanding officer of the 50th Precinct Captain Kevin Burke said he would closely monitor the traffic situation in the lead-up to the school’s opening. Parents of the first 132 applicants will be notified by mail and email of their child’s acceptance. Families will have until Monday, April 30 to submit signed documentation confirming their intentions to enroll their child at TI.
thinking there’s some coup, she should focus on the issues. My husband was one who ran, and he didn’t know who the KRVCDC was until he read the article in the Bronx Press-Review. The reason so many articles are coming out, slandering these outstanding youngsters trying to help out, is because someone is scared—and it isn’t them. The WTA is historic, and used to have hundreds upon thousands of members in attendance. So what if thirty tried to join in March of 2012? Membership has declined with the current board, because as most locals call it, it’s become a “hen session,” where there’s no order, nothing gets done, and everyone ends up screaming at each other. The fact the people who ran, and lost, got so many votes without most “knowing them” shows how frustrated some have become. Past treasurers, vice presidents, past board members and current members even nominated them! And I’m sure they would’ve got more votes if people weren’t illegally told they couldn’t join (not in the bylaws), there’s only one vote per household, and a few residents’ checks were mysteriously never received or cashed. Ms. Rose most recently quit the taxpayers’ board due to “funny business” going on. Why hasn’t there been an annual financial report like stated in the bylaws? Why even have bylaws if you’re just going to do what you want anyway? Amanda Black Editor’s Note: The stunning win by the incumbent administration of the Woodlawn Taxpayers Association came in an election supervised by local clergy. Our
Senate Democrats
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by both houses, sent to the President to be signed into law. Of course, when both houses of Congress are controlled by the same party (as in 2010), the process is very quick. So, I now respectfully ask Rep. Eliot Engel: What the heck happened in 2010 when both houses of Congress and the Presidency were all controlled by the Democrat Party? Why wasn’t a budget passed? You were there, what’s the story? And why have Harry Reid and his Democratic cohorts in the U.S. Senate sat on their collective behinds all these years and done nothing? These bums are a disgrace to this country! They are being paid to do a job, not play politics! Isn’t it about time the Democrat-controlled Senate passed their own budget bill and sat down to NEGOTIATE with the Republicans? This country needs action, not obstinacy. Do you disagree, congressman? I welcome a response from Mr. Engel, Assemblyman Dinowitz or any other Democratic Party politician. Surely these party stalwarts are not going to let my disparaging comments go unanswered? Alvin Gordon
Show Times
Wednesday, April 18 at 3pm Thursday, April 19 at 7:30pm Saturday, April 21 at 9pm Sunday, April 22 at 3pm
Directed by Laurie Walton
Tickets: $20 at the door Seniors & Students: $12 For more info go to www.Riverdalerisingstars.com 5625 Arlington Avenue Bronx, NY 10471 718-548-8200 www.RiverdaleY.org
19 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, April 19, 2012
Another view of the Woodlawn ‘coup’
concern is not the grievances of members, real or imagined, or the bylaws of the group. Rather our concern is with the apparent interference by the politicallymotivated Riverdale/Kingsbridge/Van Cortlandt Development Corporation (KRVCDC) in a community that lies outside their area, but within the City Council District that one of their top officers, Clifford Stanton, has already announced that he is targeting for election next year.