Sunday, November 27, 2005
That Andy Warhol Feeling 15 minutes of fame.
Tuesday 5:40 am, I was listening WABC am radio and hear this,"the Daily News is reporting cops are monkeying around with a traffic light at the Bx.Zoo, the News reports cops would set off a motion detector,trigger the light and then backup into their lair, thereby entrapping drivers who miss the redlight." He goes on to say,the cops were meeting quota's while creating a more dangerous situation " the NYPD doesn't deny the practice, ( I had videotape) but said an investigation will begin into MR.?????????'s complaint. My redlight ticket May 28, 1997 (also Rudy's birthday) had made the "front page" I had eagles in my stomach, sort of like OMG!. My newspaper was delivered at 6am and to my astonishment there it is. Front Page,in 3 inch type
"GOTCHA" cops tricky light show. All I wanted was answers "can this be legal"and here I am.
Next surprise,Donna Faducia Channel 5 Fox news called for an interview at the Bx.Zoo. Yes,I agreed and at 8:00am I was "live" with Dick Oliver Ace Reporter in NYC, discussing the tricks played by 3 particular cops. It's not like the whole precinct went to the zoo to meet quota's just these 3 named corrupt cops who allowed their friends a"get out of a ticket card" one cop took women's names (if she was good looking or easy..) he'd let her go,no ticket but probably a phone number. Also. These cops lied their butts off in traffic court (more on them later). As we were speaking the Fox-5 Helicopter was overhead capturing LIVE my interview at the zoo. Showing
all New Yorkers how these cops were screwing the public. I stepped up when I saw police mis conduct I reported this abuse to various agencies and no replies but one call to Rudy and action was taken. For more than 6 years these cops routinely victimized motorists on East Fordham Rd.but after public attention this policy is dropped. Rudy would later say, "cops were just doing their jobs,making the road safe." Daily News will later debunk Rudy's claim. Dick Oliver saw the
larceny in the police action,hiding their patrol car behind dense shrubs. People going by were "honking their horns for victory" finally someone brought attention to the beast from the Bronx
I was kind of glowing,on a trip. I return home and my neighbor tell me Channel 2 has been looking for me (wow) Kendra Farn of CBS wants an interview,NY Times reporter calls for an interview, WABC-TV calls and sends Stacey Sager to interview me, I also get a call from CBS radio another interview, 1010 WINS John Montone, Rebecca Schawartz with Channel 1 News,. I agree and meet with most media at the Bx.Zoo and go through the motions of how the NYPD were rigging a traffic light. The media would come with all the remote trucks with 20' antenna's beaming signals, microphones in my face,lights, cameras, I once lived an obscure life,
low end life, but yet the dirty laundry in my past was mine and for me to know only.(more on that soon!) Imagine my surprise by the sudden celebrity. Hey, I did the right thing,cops were indeed rigging the light,I reported it,they dropped the ball and soon it became a public interest
issue. It was now about 11 Am I'm outside talking with the neighbors,many shaking my hand,some hugging me others patting me on the back for doing the right thing and some people
liked truly liked what I accomplished. Even strangers and neighbors I didnt know said,"you did the right thing" I killed a NYC Cash Cow. I would soon pay a dear price. My satisfaction came from knowing the public agreed with Jimmy and not Rudy on this issue. Now I'm back inside my apt. watching myself on the 12;00 news wow !! I tried not to be the hero,all I wanted was an answer,"can this be legal?"I had a ticket of my own to fight. There was no "ax to grind"..
About 12;45 Pm the doorebll rings, I go and answer expecting to see a newsman or neighbor but NO, its Sergeant Jeffery McGuinnes and his buddy Sergeant Gang., I smiled, and said jokingly,"you must be here to arrest me" and when he said "YES" I almost fell over from the blood rushing to my brain,my heart was pumping hard. I ask,"why would you be arresting me,was it the TV coverage "Why,what the hell could be going on? McGuinness tells me I didn't pay a ticket in 1982 and a warrant was issued and they were here to arrest and jail me,out came the handcuffs. Before we leave for the dreaded,"Central Booking" McGuinness allows me to speak to my neighbor Joe Calzerano he too is a Borough Commander, I ask Joe how can they arrest me on this old ticket,my license is in order and been renewed 3 times. Joe says,go with the police and be polite. So off we go to the local precinct to be booked fingerprinted and held for an hour then off to Central Booking where most arrestee's are brought for processing. Some minor offenses offer an appearance ticket allowing you to walk out and appear later, but not for me I was going to be "put through the system" courtesy of Rudy Giuliani. And why? because I had courage to report abuse of police powers and sway public opinion to my cause and belief,no cop,no commissioner,no d.o.t. commissioner or Rudy himself can misuse a traffic control device.
So there I was back at Central Booking,I left that place 13 years earlier and never wanted to go back. As I was taken out of the detectives car, a photographer is snapping away at me in handcuffs with that look of fear and dread on my face but who sent him to the Courthouse. Mark Green?..NYPD? At the doorway leading to the "bull pens" where arrested people are held a large black burly corrections officers stops us and asks McGuinness,"is this the guy, " he then puts his arm around me and poses as the photographer clicked away, the corrections cop though he would be in tomorrows Daily News. So McGuinness does the paper work as I sit and cool my heels trying to figure who's behind the cheap arrest and why didn't McGuinness tell me about this stinker of a bench warrant from 13 years earlier. Three hours later I see the judge, who after verifying I've lived in the Bronx all 50 years he then vacated the warrant (threw it out) in the interest of justice. So,what was the purpose of the arrest. (more tomorrow)
"GOTCHA" cops tricky light show. All I wanted was answers "can this be legal"and here I am.
Next surprise,Donna Faducia Channel 5 Fox news called for an interview at the Bx.Zoo. Yes,I agreed and at 8:00am I was "live" with Dick Oliver Ace Reporter in NYC, discussing the tricks played by 3 particular cops. It's not like the whole precinct went to the zoo to meet quota's just these 3 named corrupt cops who allowed their friends a"get out of a ticket card" one cop took women's names (if she was good looking or easy..) he'd let her go,no ticket but probably a phone number. Also. These cops lied their butts off in traffic court (more on them later). As we were speaking the Fox-5 Helicopter was overhead capturing LIVE my interview at the zoo. Showing
all New Yorkers how these cops were screwing the public. I stepped up when I saw police mis conduct I reported this abuse to various agencies and no replies but one call to Rudy and action was taken. For more than 6 years these cops routinely victimized motorists on East Fordham Rd.but after public attention this policy is dropped. Rudy would later say, "cops were just doing their jobs,making the road safe." Daily News will later debunk Rudy's claim. Dick Oliver saw the
larceny in the police action,hiding their patrol car behind dense shrubs. People going by were "honking their horns for victory" finally someone brought attention to the beast from the Bronx
I was kind of glowing,on a trip. I return home and my neighbor tell me Channel 2 has been looking for me (wow) Kendra Farn of CBS wants an interview,NY Times reporter calls for an interview, WABC-TV calls and sends Stacey Sager to interview me, I also get a call from CBS radio another interview, 1010 WINS John Montone, Rebecca Schawartz with Channel 1 News,. I agree and meet with most media at the Bx.Zoo and go through the motions of how the NYPD were rigging a traffic light. The media would come with all the remote trucks with 20' antenna's beaming signals, microphones in my face,lights, cameras, I once lived an obscure life,
low end life, but yet the dirty laundry in my past was mine and for me to know only.(more on that soon!) Imagine my surprise by the sudden celebrity. Hey, I did the right thing,cops were indeed rigging the light,I reported it,they dropped the ball and soon it became a public interest
issue. It was now about 11 Am I'm outside talking with the neighbors,many shaking my hand,some hugging me others patting me on the back for doing the right thing and some people
liked truly liked what I accomplished. Even strangers and neighbors I didnt know said,"you did the right thing" I killed a NYC Cash Cow. I would soon pay a dear price. My satisfaction came from knowing the public agreed with Jimmy and not Rudy on this issue. Now I'm back inside my apt. watching myself on the 12;00 news wow !! I tried not to be the hero,all I wanted was an answer,"can this be legal?"I had a ticket of my own to fight. There was no "ax to grind"..
About 12;45 Pm the doorebll rings, I go and answer expecting to see a newsman or neighbor but NO, its Sergeant Jeffery McGuinnes and his buddy Sergeant Gang., I smiled, and said jokingly,"you must be here to arrest me" and when he said "YES" I almost fell over from the blood rushing to my brain,my heart was pumping hard. I ask,"why would you be arresting me,was it the TV coverage "Why,what the hell could be going on? McGuinness tells me I didn't pay a ticket in 1982 and a warrant was issued and they were here to arrest and jail me,out came the handcuffs. Before we leave for the dreaded,"Central Booking" McGuinness allows me to speak to my neighbor Joe Calzerano he too is a Borough Commander, I ask Joe how can they arrest me on this old ticket,my license is in order and been renewed 3 times. Joe says,go with the police and be polite. So off we go to the local precinct to be booked fingerprinted and held for an hour then off to Central Booking where most arrestee's are brought for processing. Some minor offenses offer an appearance ticket allowing you to walk out and appear later, but not for me I was going to be "put through the system" courtesy of Rudy Giuliani. And why? because I had courage to report abuse of police powers and sway public opinion to my cause and belief,no cop,no commissioner,no d.o.t. commissioner or Rudy himself can misuse a traffic control device.
So there I was back at Central Booking,I left that place 13 years earlier and never wanted to go back. As I was taken out of the detectives car, a photographer is snapping away at me in handcuffs with that look of fear and dread on my face but who sent him to the Courthouse. Mark Green?..NYPD? At the doorway leading to the "bull pens" where arrested people are held a large black burly corrections officers stops us and asks McGuinness,"is this the guy, " he then puts his arm around me and poses as the photographer clicked away, the corrections cop though he would be in tomorrows Daily News. So McGuinness does the paper work as I sit and cool my heels trying to figure who's behind the cheap arrest and why didn't McGuinness tell me about this stinker of a bench warrant from 13 years earlier. Three hours later I see the judge, who after verifying I've lived in the Bronx all 50 years he then vacated the warrant (threw it out) in the interest of justice. So,what was the purpose of the arrest. (more tomorrow)
