Friday, November 25, 2005
Two sergeants from the Bx. Borough Command visit me.
Friday Aug 8 1997 was an eventful day for me,not only did I speak personally to Mayor Rudy Giuliani but soon after that phone call, I receive a phone call from the Office of the Public Advocate, Joe DePlasco ,Mark Greens communications director calls and tell me "we're getting no satisfaction with the administration regarding the redlight trap at the Bx.Zoo" I tell Mr.DePlasco of my conversation with Rudy and felt I would soon get some action (boy was I right) I was confident Rudy would look into the redlight problem. What the Public Advocate wanted was a review of all motorists who we're "entrapped" by the actions of the cops from the
52nd precinct. Mark Green himself review the videotape, he and his staff saw the larceny,the abuse of power, and the danger that action posed to the public at large. It's common sense that anyone activating a traffic light inside a hidden driveway must remain in the sights of on-coming traffic traveling at 25/40 mph. Most regular users of East Fordham , 100 yards away from the Rainey Gate can determine whether that flashing yellow traffic light will suddenly change to steady yellow (2.8 sec.) to red. Think about it, your driving to work,traffic is steady and moving towards the Parkway's entrances ,its 6,maybe 7 AM you see no car in the Gate so you dismiss it concentrate on the road and move swiftly through the zoo's intersection. When the Bx.Zoo is closed (6PM-(9AM) that traffic light will always flash yellow allowing a free flow for traffic (us). Joe DePlasco told me the Office was going to the press with this story and I'd soon be contacted by a reporter from the NY.Daily News. WOW !! I had eagles in my stomach again, I would be able tell what I saw as a victim and a concerned citizen who felt, "THIS CAN"T BE LEGAL" rigging a traffic control device then backing into their lair.
Had those officers just stayed forward of the sensor so all on-coming cars would see someone in the driveway and anticipate a change to red. But no these cops nefariously backed their patrol carup 30 feet and hid behind some large trees, hugh bushes, and dense shrubbery,they were hoping people would miss it, and many did (like me). You know I live here in the Bronx 59 years and I never,never, seen a ticket trap so ingeniuos and yet so hideous because it screwed the lives of thousands of innocent people and tragically, 4 people died at that location. If car A slams his brakes,car B traveling 40 mph will rear end car A, possibly causing severe injuries. I had seen evidence of 2 minor rear ending collisions during the time the cops were out issuing a summons. more on these cops later..
I soon go outside and speak with my neighbor friend Ann,her brother ironically is the Brooklyn Borough Commander, Joe Calzerano. As I express my excitement of speaking to Rudy and then
Mark Green's office , a NY.Daily News reporter soon to be interviewing me for the details of the redlight trap. It was truly a memorable morning for me. As me and Ann talk, (Ann' was 82)
2 men in suits exit a car,Ann suggests, their here to speak to me. The men approach and ask "am I James ?????????. Yes I reply, and ask them ,"did Rudy send you," they answer,you called the Mayor this morning and we're here to look at your videotape. After Sergeant Jeffrey McGuinness of the Bronx Borough Command Investigations identifies himself and his partner another sergeant, we go inside my apt. And watch my amateur video. McGuinness was the detective I spoke with 2 days earlier,he promised to investigate, but didn't. While watching I'm asked, "did I ever see a person arrested,cuffed and jailed?" No, I said, but I did see someone taken out of his car and placed into the patrol car for 20 mins. guy was handcuffed. I pointed out in the video where I say the cops rigging the light crossed the line, and entrapped motorists
McGuinness knew these cops were out of bounds, he'd already told me 2 days earlier,its not permitted to roll on the sensor at the zoo gate. He then asked me if he could take my video downtown to Police Plaza Hdqts. He promised he'd bring the videotape back (LOL) soon ! Hell no. If I lose the master copy I would have nothing but a compelling story, and who'd believe me. I told them I'd make a copy for them, and they soon left with a promise they would definitely investigate those cops and the motorists who were victimized at the Bronx Zoo Rainey Gate traffic light. I was beaming, for 8 weeks my complaints fell on deaf ears. Then all of a sudden, both mayor Rudy Giuliani and Mark Green (Public Advocate) are involved, Rudy, trying to keep it hush hush ,and Green getting ready for a public showdown with Rudy in the media, and me in the middle but I did have a legitimate problem that needed answers. more tomorrow...
52nd precinct. Mark Green himself review the videotape, he and his staff saw the larceny,the abuse of power, and the danger that action posed to the public at large. It's common sense that anyone activating a traffic light inside a hidden driveway must remain in the sights of on-coming traffic traveling at 25/40 mph. Most regular users of East Fordham , 100 yards away from the Rainey Gate can determine whether that flashing yellow traffic light will suddenly change to steady yellow (2.8 sec.) to red. Think about it, your driving to work,traffic is steady and moving towards the Parkway's entrances ,its 6,maybe 7 AM you see no car in the Gate so you dismiss it concentrate on the road and move swiftly through the zoo's intersection. When the Bx.Zoo is closed (6PM-(9AM) that traffic light will always flash yellow allowing a free flow for traffic (us). Joe DePlasco told me the Office was going to the press with this story and I'd soon be contacted by a reporter from the NY.Daily News. WOW !! I had eagles in my stomach again, I would be able tell what I saw as a victim and a concerned citizen who felt, "THIS CAN"T BE LEGAL" rigging a traffic control device then backing into their lair.
Had those officers just stayed forward of the sensor so all on-coming cars would see someone in the driveway and anticipate a change to red. But no these cops nefariously backed their patrol carup 30 feet and hid behind some large trees, hugh bushes, and dense shrubbery,they were hoping people would miss it, and many did (like me). You know I live here in the Bronx 59 years and I never,never, seen a ticket trap so ingeniuos and yet so hideous because it screwed the lives of thousands of innocent people and tragically, 4 people died at that location. If car A slams his brakes,car B traveling 40 mph will rear end car A, possibly causing severe injuries. I had seen evidence of 2 minor rear ending collisions during the time the cops were out issuing a summons. more on these cops later..
I soon go outside and speak with my neighbor friend Ann,her brother ironically is the Brooklyn Borough Commander, Joe Calzerano. As I express my excitement of speaking to Rudy and then
Mark Green's office , a NY.Daily News reporter soon to be interviewing me for the details of the redlight trap. It was truly a memorable morning for me. As me and Ann talk, (Ann' was 82)
2 men in suits exit a car,Ann suggests, their here to speak to me. The men approach and ask "am I James ?????????. Yes I reply, and ask them ,"did Rudy send you," they answer,you called the Mayor this morning and we're here to look at your videotape. After Sergeant Jeffrey McGuinness of the Bronx Borough Command Investigations identifies himself and his partner another sergeant, we go inside my apt. And watch my amateur video. McGuinness was the detective I spoke with 2 days earlier,he promised to investigate, but didn't. While watching I'm asked, "did I ever see a person arrested,cuffed and jailed?" No, I said, but I did see someone taken out of his car and placed into the patrol car for 20 mins. guy was handcuffed. I pointed out in the video where I say the cops rigging the light crossed the line, and entrapped motorists
McGuinness knew these cops were out of bounds, he'd already told me 2 days earlier,its not permitted to roll on the sensor at the zoo gate. He then asked me if he could take my video downtown to Police Plaza Hdqts. He promised he'd bring the videotape back (LOL) soon ! Hell no. If I lose the master copy I would have nothing but a compelling story, and who'd believe me. I told them I'd make a copy for them, and they soon left with a promise they would definitely investigate those cops and the motorists who were victimized at the Bronx Zoo Rainey Gate traffic light. I was beaming, for 8 weeks my complaints fell on deaf ears. Then all of a sudden, both mayor Rudy Giuliani and Mark Green (Public Advocate) are involved, Rudy, trying to keep it hush hush ,and Green getting ready for a public showdown with Rudy in the media, and me in the middle but I did have a legitimate problem that needed answers. more tomorrow...
