Winner of Vol. 71, No. 18
What’s inside?
the Pulitzer Prize
Thursday, June 11, 2020
$1.00
A call to end police brutality Protest rumors turn into a peaceful vigil at Seton Park
Lone voice
By KIRSTYN BRENDLEN kbrendlen@riverdalepress.com
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The Monument has been home to a number of vigils in history, but none like the one this past week. Page A7
JULIUS CONSTANTINE MOTAL
Ready to camp? Normally some kids would be packing for camp, but what is that like in this whole ‘new normal’? Page A8
Rock the vote The Democratic primary is here ... almost. Do you know who you’re voting for? Meet a few candidates. Pages A6, A9 & A13
Mourners hold up signs in support of the Black Lives Matter movement at a vigil in Seton Park remembering African Americans killed by police brutality.
Rumors swirl, but no one knows from where By ANTHONY CAPOTE & KIRSTYN BRENDLEN
‘The notice, for example, said, ‘Make sure to remove your valuables from your cars.’ I’m sorry, but that’s an overtly racist implication that there may be folks of color coming to — Jennifer Scarlott our neighborhood.’
of The Riverdale Press
Fear and panic swept across the community early last week as rumors swirled through co-op boards and then social media about a violent protest planned for Seton Park. It started on Tuesday, June 2, when several of Riverdale and Spuyten Duyvil’s co-operative housing communities sent out letters warning residents of a planned demonstration at the Independence Avenue park. Many of the letters, including one from the Whitehall Club — the spa and health club attached to the co-op of the same name — warned residents of increased police presence, street closures and barricades. “There will certainly be a greatly expanded police presence in the area, and possibly extensive media coverage of the
event,” according to the letter. “Whitehall management is taking steps to enhance our building security, including security guards to be stationed as needed, and possible entry and exit door closures.” The Whitehall, located between Seton Park and the Henry Hudson Parkway, was not the only building to distribute such letters. They were joined by Briar Oaks and the Skyview Apartments in North Riverdale also sent out notices explicitly warn-
ing residents of potential violence at the protest. On social media, a post on a popular Riverdale Facebook group about the Whitehall Club letter garnered 165 comments. Many simply questioned the veracity of the demonstration and why members of the co-op boards from the various buildings who sent notices expected such an expansive police response. RUMORS, page A4
ll over the country, tens of thousands of people have turned out to protest police brutality following the police-involved killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Many of those protesters can be found in New York City, flowing through the streets of all five boroughs night after night, facing threats of arrest, especially when Mayor Bill de Blasio had his contro- RUMORS versial 8 p.m. curfew in effect. It was still a surprise, though, when co-op residents around Seton Park were given warnings about a protest supposedly planned for the afternoon of June 3. Some of those warnings hinted at potential violence in the park, and rumors started swirling JIMMY on social media about BRITT what was to come. By Wednesday morning, however, it had become clear that the rumors were unsubstantiated, and no one could quite pin down who started spinning such yarns. That’s where Sasha Parsley Kesler came in. Angry about the rumors and the related discourse on social media, Kesler took to Facebook and Instagram to organize a last-minute vigil remembering black victims of police brutality. “I made a Facebook invite, just sort of quickly inviting my friends,” Kesler said. “This was, like, maybe 10:30 in the morning. And putting it in all the Facebook groups.” She called the 50th Precinct to see if she would need a permit for a gathering, and to ask about the alleged warnings about a protest. She didn’t need a permit, and no, the New York Police Department never issued a formal warning to The Whitehall, or any other residential building in the area. Kesler planned to at least gather a few people on the grass at Seton Park to read the names of black people killed by police in the last decade, observing a moment of silence between each name, and another at PEACEFUL VIGIL, page A4
Not even curfew could protect jewelry shop By CHEYENNE R. UBIERA Intern
Sergey Musheyev got the phone call no business owner ever wanted to receive. Last week, many businesses across the city feared some of the rioting and looting that appeared to accompany what were otherwise peaceful protests in Brooklyn, Manhattan and even Mott Haven, would land on their doorstep. The Broadway stretch of businesses in Kingsbridge was no exception. And that’s exactly where Musheyev keeps his Gold Market Jewelry Store. The voice on the other end had bad news for Musheyev — his 5625 Broadway
store had been vandalized, and not even Mayor Bill de Blasio’s curfew that night could protect it. Musheyev and his employees later found the store’s front windows and doors shattered, with a half-dozen charms thrown onto the street. Inside, four showcases were destroyed, leaving broken glass everywhere. Musheyev estimates the assailants made off with nearly $100,000 worth of gold. Musheyev’s store was deemed “essential” during the statewide coronavirus lockdown, allowing him to work despite the state’s stay-at-home order. However, with people afraid to leave home, Musheyev’s
Broadway shop wasn’t getting a lot of business, meaning he was closed more often than he was open. Now, even as the rest of the city finally starts to reopen, Musheyev wonders when he might. “It’s not about when I’m going to reopen,” Musheyev said. “It’s about when the riots are going to stop.” Protests sprung up all over the city in the wake of the May 25 police-involved death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Many have been peaceful, yet some have come with rioting and looting. Musheyev called police, who came by the store right away. But no investigators
have returned to get a description of the stolen items, nor has he been called to the 50th Precinct. He fears whoever stole his gold might start selling it somewhere else. “I’m amazed. They know what happened,” Musheyev said of local police officers. “They’re probably busy with everything that’s going on.” When Yazzy Lee learned of the attack, she came down to the store to lend a helping hand. There wasn’t anyone in the streets, said Lee, a lifelong Riverdale resident who works at Musheyev’s store. There were rumors of protests happening in the area JEWELRY, page A4
Eateries begin to reopen, but will it ever be same? By MAYA KATZ Intern
With summer approaching, the first phase of reopening on the other side of the coronavirus pandemic couldn’t come soon enough for New York City, especially for businesses here in the Bronx. While businesses deemed “essential” by the state have had at least some leg up over others over the past three months, it still hasn’t been easy keeping the doors open. Inventory prices have fluctuated. Hours have been cut. Staffing often is low. Restaurants have had to change the way they serve customers as the notion of sitting down in an air-conditioned dining room on a nice sunny day is quite distant
Some restaurants take to streets, & sidewalks Page A3 in a COVID-19 world. Many restaurants, like the kosher Mexican eatery Carlos & Gabby’s in North Riverdale, have survived on both pick-up and deliveries since mid-March. The restaurant’s owner, Ralph Haber, probably stressed a little more than his counterparts elsewhere in the city, especially since his eatery was right in the shadow of SAR High School, the first school in the state to shut down because of the coronavirus all the way back on March 3. EATERIES, page A4
IN CONTRACT ALISON BARTLETT // 917.379.2045 ELLEN CURTIN // 718.415.9915 ELLEN FELD // 917.734.9463
JULIUS CONSTANTINE MOTAL
Kenneth Burgos takes a customer’s order at the Bronx Alehouse, which has adapted its business to the challenge posed by the coronavirus pandemic. People have continued to support the eatery, and while it has managed to stay open, business hasn’t been the same.
4705 Henry Hudson Pkwy
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