Regional Briefs – October 6, 2014

MTA Time Capsule Contains … Mud

BROOKLYN – A time capsule buried in 1950 outside the former MTA headquarters in Brooklyn contained just a mush of mud and a few soggy items when it was opened Wednesday, the Daily News reported. The capsule was buried in a ceremony led by Mayor William O’Dwyer. The only salvageable item in the capsule was a nickel.

NJ Acting Governor in Hospital After Bike Accident

NEWARK – Acting Gov. Kim Guadagno on Thursday was hospitalized with broken bones following a bike accident when she stopped suddenly to avoid a vehicle and fell, The Associated Press reported. She was serving as acting governor with Gov. Chris Christie out of town.

Toll Worker Sues, Told Not to Say ‘G-d Bless You’

PERTH AMBOY, N.J. – A former Garden State Parkway toll collector has filed a civil rights lawsuit, saying a supervisor told her to stop saying “G-d bless you” as drivers pulled away, News 12 New Jersey reported. Cynthia Fernandez, who has quit, said her First Amendment rights were violated and is seeking back pay with benefits and a cash settlement.

VA to Look Into Wrong Name on Civil War Gravestone

ELMIRA, N.Y. – Federal officials will look into a man’s claim that the wrong last name is on the gravestone of his Civil War ancestor, the Star-Gazette of Elmira reported. Franklin Cauble was mistakenly buried under the name of Franklin Cooper, a fellow soldier. The VA said it typically doesn’t fix historic headstones.

De Blasio Puts His Brooklyn Town House Up for Rent

BROOKLYN – Mayor Bill de Blasio is seeking a renter for his Park Slope, Brooklyn, town house while he and his family live in Gracie Mansion, WCBS reported. The 3-story house is listed for nearly $5,000 a month, with three bedrooms, one bathroom and a small backyard with an herb garden and a crabapple tree.

Outerbridge Crossing E-ZPass to Be Repaved

PERTH AMBOY, N.J. – Motorists are not expected to face major delays when work begins Sunday night to repave the high-speed E-ZPass lanes at the Outerbridge Crossing. The three-week project on the span linking Perth Amboy with Staten Island will take place between Sunday nights and Thursday afternoons. All five other toll lanes will remain open.

NYC School Custodians Pay Tops $109,000

ALBANY – New York City’s 799 public school custodians on average were paid $109,000 in 2014, making them the highest paid municipal employees, reported the Empire Center. A de Blasio spokesman said their pay has “been built into our system” through contracts.

Ex-Assemblywoman Gets Prison for Sham Marriage

NEW YORK – A former assemblywoman accused of buying an $8,000 sham marriage to gain citizenship 20 years ago was sentenced Friday to a year in prison by a judge who said pursuit of the American dream was a poor excuse, ignoring requests for leniency so Gabriela Rosa, a Dominican native, could care for her son and mother. The Democrat was elected in 2012 to represent Manhattan.

This article appeared in print on page 56 of the October 6th, 2014 edition of Hamodia.