A camerawoman outside the Patz residence on Spring Street.

Soho residents angry over Patz murder media blitz

By Paul Bisceglio

Local media went into a frenzy last week when 51-year-old New Jersey man Pedro Hernandez confessed to killing Etan Patz, a 6-year-old Soho resident who went missing on his way to the bus on May 25, 1979.

The disappearance made national headlines 33 years ago, largely thanks to the Patz family’s tenacious circulation of Patz’s pictures to media outlets. Last week, however, the family wanted little to do with the barrage of reporters, photographers and cameramen who piled out of news vans in front of their home at the intersection of Prince and Wooster streets.

“I wish this could end,” Patz’s mother, Julie, told a crowd of press on Monday morning, according to The Daily News. “This is taking my freedom away. I just wish this could be over.”

The family’s relationship with media soured as reporters continued to hound them for information throughout the day, approaching them on the street for quotes and rushing after them for pictures whenever they stepped out of their home.
Patz’s father, Stan, posted the following note outside the family’s door: “To all media people hanging around here: You have managed to make a difficult situation even worse. Talk to your assignment editors. It is past time for you to leave me, my family and my neighbors alone.”

Undaunted, the media stuck around the house until last Thursday, packed with laptops and recording equipment in vans and cars that lined Prince Street from Wooster to West Broadway, where a small memorial of flowers and candles marked Patz’s bus stop.

The Soho community did not make the media’s stay easy. The Patz family’s pleas incited antagonism between locals and journalists.

“They hate us,” one berated reporter said, citing multiple incidents of verbal abuse directed at reporters, photographers and media crews around the scene—even an attempted attack with a wheelchair. When the reporter told one resident that he was there to write about the murder, for instance, the resident responded, “I hope when you go to bed tonight you’re a real stressed motherf—er.”

Many community members happily affirmed their discontent with the media’s continued presence. Jaime Gutierrez, founder of the blog sohonyc.com, said that after so long, the Soho community was ready to let the story go, and that the journalists were scaring away tourists. Another resident said that the reporters should “get real jobs” and leave the family at peace. A young artist street vendor was blunt: “They’re f—ing goons.”

Sean Sweeney, director of the Soho Alliance and resident of the community since the mid-1970s, thinks the neighborhood’s longtime members are more resigned to media blitzes. “We roll our eyes and say, ‘We’ve been through this before,’” he said. Nonetheless, he called the reporters’ persistent efforts a “zoo” and argued that the media had crossed the point where press becomes “malevolent” and “paparazzi.”

“Leave them alone,” he said. “They’ve suffered enough.”

“I feel a bit like a goon,” one photographer admitted when told about the street vendor’s charge. He agreed that the coverage was excessive, and frowned upon some reporters’ invasive tactics—shadowing family members on the streets, badgering them for quotes, peering into windows. However, he emphasized that the choice was out of his hands. He had been told where to be and was just doing his job.

Other journalists were more defensive about their importance to the community. One reporter noted that a strong media presence pressures police to resolve the case and give the Patz family the answers they deserve.

A photographer argued that journalists play a role in promoting national awareness of childhood disappearances and abductions. Ernie Allen, president and CEO of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, was quoted last week as saying that, with news of the renewed investigation spreading, “We have seen a huge increase in interest and calls—but I think the most positive and important result is that we are hearing from many parents of long-term missing children. It has given them hope.”

Another reporter mentioned that journalists were providing details that many Soho community members wanted to hear. Murray Weiss, DNAinfo columnist and criminal justice editor, told WNYC last week that the FBI is still skeptical about the confession of Hernandez, who is schizophrenic, bipolar and has a history of hallucinations, and rumors in the community persist that some members of the police and the district attorney’s office doubt the credibility of his case. Longtime Soho residents have been exchanging emails weighing the evidence of Hernandez’s guilt, and some remain unconvinced.

More than anything, though, the journalists were bored—and hot. Stuck in cars for hours in 90-degree heat, frustrated that they would be in the same place tomorrow and simply waiting for something to happen, most were as eager as the Patz family to put the story to rest.

DANCE NEW AMSTERDAM RESCUED FROM GETTING THE BOOT
State Sen. Daniel Squadron and Executive Director of Dance New Amsterdam (DNA) Catherine Peila announced last week that the performance center in Lower Manhattan has reached an agreement with its landlord to lower its monthly rent and rental debt. This announcement comes after a three-year effort by local elected officials, residents and cultural representatives to keep the valued dance education center open.

DNA has been serving the Manhattan community for 28 years through public performances, artist services and classes and has worked with roughly 32,000 artists and performers. It was the first nonprofit organization to move into the area, from its former Chinatown location, after the 9/11 attacks.

“This lease amendment lowers our rent and debt tremendously. We are now better positioned to further stabilize, implement educational programs and support the artist’s creative process from studio to stage and beyond,” said Peila.
Since 2010, DNA’s monthly rent has been $70,000, a number that would have risen to $90,000 by 2020 if not for the new agreement. In 2010, the company was unable to pay a month’s rent, which resulted in their possible eviction.

“Over the past 10 years, as Lower Manhattan has recovered, a burgeoning cultural center has come back stronger than ever—and DNA has been a key part of that transformation,” said Squadron. “This agreement is a testament to the fact that it’s possible to find paths forward for community-based cultural organizations and the invaluable work they do.”

9/11 ANNIVERSARY RECOVERY EFFORTS SPURS HONORS
Speaker Sheldon Silver, Assemblyman Michael DenDekker and Minority Leader Brian Kolb announced the passage of an Assembly resolution yesterday at a ceremony honoring volunteers, including residents of the area, who worked on recovery and salvage efforts at the World Trade Center site in the wake of 9/11. Thursday, May 30 marked the 10-year anniversary of the completion of those efforts.

“In pausing to pay tribute to those heroes who courageously and selflessly gave of their time, their energy and even their personal health to support these efforts, we are inscribing in the record books that their courage and sacrifice is forever respected and appreciated by all who call New York State their home,” said Kolb

A copy of the resolution will be held in the National September 11 Memorial and Museum.

The museum also recently launched a web-based interactive timeline of the rescue and recovery events that took place after the 9/11 attacks to honor the efforts of first responders and volunteers.

The timeline, which starts at Sept. 12, 2001, and goes to May 30, 2002, uses images, oral histories and never-before-seen videos by the public to depict the heroic rescues, relief efforts and milestones that followed the attacks.
The museum will also feature a Scroll of Honor, an installation displaying a list of names of all who died on Sept. 11, 2001. In addition, there will be a Recovery and Relief Workers Registry.

“The Scroll of Honor and interactive timeline will be innovative tools for teaching that the story of 9/11 is not just about that one day, but also about the way people came together in the days, weeks, months and years after 9/11 to contribute to the recovery and revitalization of lower Manhattan,” said Alice Greenwald, director of the museum.

COUNCIL SPEAKER CHRISTINE QUINN RESPONDS TO DOMA’S REPEAL
Last week, the Federal Appeals Court repealed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which outlaws gay marriage, deeming it “unconstitutional.”

In response to the announcement, Council Speaker Christine Quinn released a statement today, agreeing with the decision.

“I’m pleased we’re one step closer to overturning harmful federal legislation that denies same-sex couples the right to wed, depriving them of the security and benefits of marriage,” said Quinn.

“I’m proud of the work we have done, and will continue to do, to ensure equal rights for all people, and I thank everyone who has fought so valiantly to repeal DOMA for their efforts and for their tireless work to end this discriminatory policy once and for all.”

Bless This Theft
A 64-year old woman who only spoke Chinese was approached by three young women on Canal Street who told the victim that she needed to have her money and jewelry blessed to ward off evil spirits. The victim, amazingly, brought all her cash and 23 pieces of gold jewelry, worth a whopping $60,000 in all, to a location they specified on White Street. While there, the thieves supposedly blessed her valuables, but really swiped them out of her bag and replaced them with newspapers and a bottle of water. The perpetrators then had the audacity to tell the unsuspecting woman to wait a week before opening the bag, at which point she reported the crime to police.

Designer Handbag Theft
Some crimes take a lot of effort and teamwork. Three people recently stole a $1,295 handbag from a designer store on Spring Street. In the heist, a female team member first went into the store and, while perusing the wares, casually moved the bag to one side of a display table and promptly left the store. After the woman left, a fellow thief—this time a man—came in and picked up the purse. Police are also looking for a third male suspect in the crime, but it is unclear what role he played in this group theft.

Be Cautious When You Eat Lunch
We’ve heard of dine and dash, but not this way. A 25-year-old woman eating lunch in a restaurant on Fifth Avenue had her wallet stolen right behind her back, as her purse was slung over her chair. The thief stole a number of cards and items from her purse, worth a total of $1,515, and charged $1,300 on her credit cards.

A similar incident occurred a day before, when a 49-year-old woman was having lunch in a downtown café and her wallet was stolen from her purse, which was on the back of her chair. When she called her credit card company to report it, they informed the woman that the thief had already spent $2,450 at a retail store.

Yet Another iTheft
Earlier this month, a 31-year-old woman was standing in front of a coffee shop on West Houston Street with a friend when two women attacked her, stealing the victim’s iPhone, worth around $500, then fleeing in a car. Police say the victim’s shoulder was bruised in the attack and she had a few scratches on her body.

Two-Wheeled iTheft
Even keeping your bag on you can’t guarantee it won’t be stolen. As a 33-year-old woman was walking up West Broadway, a thief riding by on his bike managed to reach out and grab her bag. The sack contained a $1,200 Macbook Air laptop, an iPad 2 worth $499 and prescription medication, totaling $1,849 in stolen goods

A Shopper’s Wallet Goes Missing
When we go shopping, we expect to spend most of our money ourselves, but this wasn’t the case for a 39-year-old woman who was recently shopping downtown. The woman told police that while looking at clothes at a store, she absentmindedly left her wallet in her shopping cart. She noticed her wallet was missing when she went to check out. Thankfully, no charges were made on her cards before she cancelled them.

Costumed Capers
When the regular old black ski mask doesn’t do the trick, some criminals turn to costumes for their illegal antics. Two men in their forties, who were posing as police officers, pushed a 24-year-old man against a wall. As one removed his wallet, the other acted as a lookout at the Canal Street subway station in Soho. While one fled the scene on foot, the other was successfully arrested by police and the $40 that had been stolen out of the young man’s wallet was returned.

Cell Phone Theft
As a 17-year-old man was standing on the corner of South and Whitehall streets, when two 18-year-old men jumped him. One of them kicked the man to the ground, while the other took his $500 Blackberry. The pair walked away, leaving the victim with injuries to one eye and scrapes on the back of his neck and elbows.

In the Lower East Side Business Improvement District (LES BID) and Dub Studio Architects’ latest effort to attract people and businesses to the area, the duo scattered ping-pong tables, badminton courts and food carts from local eateries along Orchard Street, all to create the vibe of a giant backyard. The party, though unfortunately dampened by an afternoon thunderstorm, drew massive crowds of both LES residents and visitors.

Perhaps the most impressive part of the day, though, was the kid who scored the afternoon. Eight-year-old DJ Kai Song, hailing from Dumbo, drew plenty of attention from participants as he provided pop music throughout the entire five-hour festival.

It was DayLife’s first time out, but the LES BID hopes it will be the first of many Sunday events.

Paul Panus with his recovered bike at Chelsea Piers. Photo by Jonathan Springer.

With bicycle thefts now common in NYC, one man set up a sting operation to recover his stolen bike

by Sean Creamer

Paul Panus’ story is one that begins like many bicycle thefts, with a nice bike and a cheap lock. After his bike was stolen, Panus, a 33-year-old IT project manager and skateboarding and cycling enthusiast, seemed destined to become just another statistic in the ever-growing rash of bicycle thefts currently plaguing New York City.

Through a combination of tenacity and cunning, however, Panus found his wheels and brought the thief to justice.
The bike is a Jamis Coda, a sleek, flat-handlebarred “road racing [bike] without the racing emphasis,” according to the manufacturer, that Panus purchased in late March of this year for around $600. Only three days after Panus bought his new set of wheels from Chelsea Bicycles, it was stolen from outside the skateboard park at Pier 62 in Chelsea.

“I got to Chelsea at about 11 o’clock in the morning,” said Panus as he sat on his recovered bike at the scene of the crime one recent afternoon. “I happened to peek my head over the fence at about two o’clock, because it was a brand-new bike, and I noticed that it wasn’t there. The bike wasn’t there and the lock wasn’t there.”

Panus questioned his fellow skaters to see if anyone had spotted the bike-napper. Unfortunately, no one had seen the thief, but he received a tip that would prove pivotal.

“Some people told me to report it to the [Hudson River Park Trust] lost and found. I never did, but then someone suggested I check Craigslist, and that is what I did for the next three days, looking for a Jamis Coda bike,” Panus said, as he drew a heavy- duty lock from his bag and snapped his bike frame to a signpost.

Panus began his search on a Saturday and scoured the Internet for three days until he found what he believed to be his ride.

“It was a generic description of the bike, with a picture from the actual website, so it wasn’t a photo of the bike,” he recalled. ”But that is what made it seem fishy to me, because if you’re selling the bike, why don’t you take an actual picture of it?”

While the NYPD didn’t provide data on the number of bike thefts that occur in the city each year, the bike community in New York City has noted a rise in such crimes and many say it is now a common occurrence. Will Huff, who has worked as a bike messenger for 10 years and is currently a salesman at Spokesman Cycles, has had three bikes stolen over the last few years.

Huff said the rising popularity of road and high-end fixed-gear bicycles has skyrocketed demand for stolen parts. “We can sell a bike one week and have it get ripped off two days later,” said Huff as he restocked a line of premium steel bike locks.

Huff was surprised to hear that Panus had gotten most of his bike back; usually when a bike is stolen it will be stripped of its components, with each one sold individually to bike messengers and aficionados who search for specific parts. While the buyers of the stolen parts may be cycling enthusiasts, Huff said he thinks the thieves themselves steal for a very different reason.

“Most of them are junkies,” alleged Huff. “Once you know how to do something, that is how you make your money. There is basically a steady flow of professionals going around stealing wheels, brakes and whatever they can get their hands on.”

Huff then brandished a heavy-duty bike lock called “The New York Fahgettaboudit Mini,” which weighs 7 pounds. Hefting the lock up and down to display its size, Huff noted, “They can all be sawed through. The only way you can protect your bike is to lock it in a place that is well-lit and well-traveled. People are generally lazy and will lock their bike up in front of their house, which is where most thefts will happen.”

On the day of the theft, Panus locked up his bike at Chelsea Pier 62 at 23rd Street, a renovated pier that is home to a skate park with a bike rack near the entrance. It is heavily traveled by tourists, skateboarders and cyclists and is located right next to a leisure cruise line.

Despite all of this, Panus’ bike was stolen in the middle of the day, almost right under his nose.

“Bike thieves will watch an area and take notes on which bikes are locked up and how often the owner comes back to the bike,” said Huff.

The ad that Panus believed to be selling his bike was a generic one. The bike was being sold out of Jersey City at an asking price of $350, and the post contained a picture of the bike from Jamis’ website.

“It was the only ad I saw that was the same model as my bike,” said Panus. “The bike is not that common.”
Panus decided to email the thief directly, posing as a potential buyer. Acting on impulse, he sent that first message without any idea of what his next move would be.

“It seemed kind of fishy to me,” Panus said of his conversations with the thief. “He did not post a photo of the bike itself and would not give out his number.”

In his email communication with the thief, the seller touted that the bike was more or less brand new and that Panus could have it, provided he met the seller in Jersey City or Hoboken.

Before another potential buyer could swoop in, Panus acted fast and consulted a pal who is an NYPD officer. The friend advised Panus to talk to the officers at the 10th Precinct, the jurisdiction in which the bike was stolen, before meeting up with the thief.

“I went in and I gave them the ad from Craigslist and told them the situation,” he remembered. “They said, ‘Are you sure this is your bike? Do you have anything to identify it with?’”

He told the officers that he could tell if the bike was his by checking its serial number, which Chelsea Bikes provided him. Similar to a vehicle’s VIN, bicycles have serial numbers the manufacturer uses to catalog each one produced. The only remaining hurdle for Panus was that his bike was being sold out of New Jersey, outside of the area covered by the NYPD.
“They told me that if I could convince the guy to come into the city, to bring the bike into the city, that they would be happy to set up a small sting operation,” said Panus.

They told Panus that if he could get the thief to come to Chelsea with the bike, the police would set up undercover officers who would make the arrest, once Panus had identified the bike as his own.

Armed with renewed vigor and a plan to take down the crook, Panus contacted the suspected bike-napper and told him that he wanted to buy the bike, but only if the seller would travel to New York City. Panus greased the seller’s palms and promised more money if the man made the trip out to Manhattan.

“I told the guy, ‘Listen, I work and live in the city; it is going to be hard for me to get over to Jersey.’” he said. “‘If I give you $50 more, will you bring it to the city?’”

The man quickly agreed to the new terms. Panus called the cops to tell them he was meeting the seller in front of the Starbucks at 23rd Street and 8th Avenue. Bear in mind that Panus found the bike on Craigslist, contacted the crook, brought in the police and baited the target to come into the city all in the same day—only three days after his bicycle was first stolen. All that was left to be done was wait for the man to show up.

“The NYPD brought in three officers. One sat in the Starbucks while I waited out front for the man and two sat in an undercover car designed to look like a taxi,” Panus said.

While they were waiting, Panus got a call from the crook, saying that he had just gotten off the PATH train and would be there soon. A Hispanic man in his mid-thirties, “a normal guy who did not look like a thug,” Panus recalled, rode up on the bike, and Panus initially thought he might have the wrong guy.

“Immediately, I noticed that the seat was different, the handle grips were different and the pedals were different,” Panus said. “But I looked the bike over, pretending that I really wanted to buy it, and I flipped the bike over and began turning the crank to make sure he didn’t think something was up as I double-checked the serial number, which I had memorized.”

“Sure enough, the serial number matched,” Panus said, smiling. “And then I threw my hand in the air.”

The undercovers sprang from their concealed locations and immediately cuffed the crook. Panus said the man was utterly shocked when the three officers converged upon him. His only response was a confused “What?”

Panus returned to the station with the undercover cops and the crook to finish up some paperwork. He watched as the man was booked on charges of possession of stolen property, since there was no way to prove that the man who was trying to sell the bike was the one who had stolen it.

“Basically, that was it. I filled out some paperwork and they let me ride away with my bike right then and there,” Panus said. “I didn’t want anyone to get away with this. I’m glad I was able to get my bike back and catch the guy.”

For those hoping their bicycle doesn’t succumb to the same fate, Huff has one simple piece of advice: “The only real way to keep your bike safe is to take it inside your home. It does not matter what kind of lock you use.”

Huff himself is the victim of multiple bike thefts. Some were stolen and never seen again, but there were several instances where he had to play dirty to get his gear back.

“Once I had a bike stolen and I found it chained somewhere a few weeks later. I went up to it, put my own lock on it and waited for the guy to come back,” Huff said. “Sometimes you have to get rough to get your stuff back.”