LUNCH WITH MURRAY
Life is good for Murray “Don’t Worry Murray” Richman.
Trading tales and laughs over lunch at Enzo’s Restaurant near his Morris Park office, the 76-year-old superstar of criminal lawyers is celebrating his 50th anniversary of admission to the bar – and a career of representing scores of mobsters, rap stars, politicians and others whose first thought after arrest or legal heat is “call Murray.”
Never shy about his successes, there’s a wealth of material there just made for a TV series, especially with lawyer daughter Stacey now an equal partner in the busy legal firm and handling her own high-profile cases.
In fact, Stacey just got back from Los Angeles after conferring with bigwigs on a series in the works about a high-profile father-daughter legal team bearing strong resemblance – “I want DeNiro to play me,” Murray joked (?).
Once that’s off the ground, he told us Simon & Shuster publishers will get rolling with his self-penned auto-biog, aptly named (and copywrited) ‘Don’t Worry Murray’.
PARTY VS. GUSTAVO
We generally don’t post links to anonymously authored blogs, but the current item on Senator Gustavo Rivera and no love lost with the Bronx Democratic Party is worth a read, given our recent columns on Party Boss Carl Heastie planning little to no support for Gustavo in the upcoming September primary. We’ve already mentioned Councilman Fernando Cabrera as a possible challenger. Go to changingbronxpolitics.blogspot.com/.
MELISSA
So, now that she’s been elected, “Progressive” City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito is back to not reciting the Pledge of Allegiance or putting her hand to her heart during the singing of the Star Spangled Banner. Something about independence or statehood for Puerto Rico. But Realpolitik interferred with moral principal and she suddenly began doing it when she got serious about campaigning for the Speaker’s post.
And at her swearing-in at Hostos Community College Wednesday night, Jan. 29 she chose to place her hand on the City Charter rather than a Bible. Just sayin’.
THE SCHUM
Mayor Bill deB (who was on time) getting some appreciative laughs from the assembled electeds at Melissa’s swearing-in, referring to seemingly everywhere Congressman Charles Schumer: “Raise your hands if Chuck Schumer’s ever been at your swear-in.”
SEATMATES
Bravo to whoever handled the seating arrangements for Assemblyman Victor Pichardo’s swearing-in at Bronx Community College, putting 83-year-old Bronx/Harlem Congressman Charlie Rangel next to North Manhattan state Senator Adriano Espaillat, his 2012 primary challenger and likely to be one again in the June congressional primary, with Rangel seeking a 24th term.
RAISING BUX
Marcos Crespo telling a fundraising crowd (only his second in a year) that its tough for a lotta electeds since member item funding is now a thing of the past in Albany.
“I’ve had to go into my campaign fund to help out local churches and other groups in need of money.”
THRIFTY GJONAJ
We hear Morris Park Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj returned $25,000 in unspent state funding for his office.
CITIZEN JOEL
Joel Rivera (“Realtor, Web Designer and Former Majority Leader of the NYC Council” cranking up a new website highlighting his time in the City Council “and what I will be up to now as a Private Citizen.”
Joel said his biggest accomplishment in his 12 years in that august body “has been delivering over $110,000,000 to the Bronx and helping to reshape the borough.”
Check out his website at www.joelriverany.com/blog/
CURSE YOU, JEFF!
Riverdale Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz definitely knows write from wrong should add up.
He’s pushing a bill in Albany to bring cursive writing and memorization of the multiplication tables as a required part of basic education curriculum, standardized tests be damned.
“The notion that a pupil could graduate from 12 years of education without knowing how to sign his or her name in cursive is unacceptable,” Dinowitz said. “Additionally, the ability for pupils to show competency in basic multiplication through a proven method schools have used for years is of the utmost importance.”
COP CORNER
Congrats. To Tom Degrazia at the Five-Two Squad in Bedford Park, upped to prestigious Detective First Grade. Also, Detective Sal Giardina at the Four-Nine Squad in Morris Park, and Dave Lopez at Bronx Warrants Squad, both promoted to Detective Second Grade.
BIRTHDAY BOY
Parkchester Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda hits the big FIVE OH-OH Tuesday, Feb. 11 while in session in Albany. But he’ll be throwing a $100-a-head birthday party/fundraiser Thursday, Feb. 13 at the F&J Pine on Bronxdale Ave. Knowing Luis, could he be having dreams of higher office someday?
UP THE LADDER
Veteran newsman and Riverdale resident David Lewis joining WNYC Radio as metro editor. Before moving up the ladder, Dave formerly did a stint as Daily News Bronx Bureau Chief, and most recently served as as a CUNY grad journalism school instructor, overseeing the Mott Haven Herald.
PASSINGS
Bronx-born and raised Gloria Leonard, nee Gloria Leonardi, 70s and 80s porn star and publisher of High Society Magazine who pioneered the popularity of phone sex lines and celeb skin coverage, at age 73. Leonard is best known for also giving the world the quote: “The difference between pornography and erotica is the lighting.”
Another Bronxite, Linda Susan Boreman who died in 2002 at age 53, was better known as Linda Lovelace of Deep Throat movie fame.
