CITYWIDE

DEAN TO AID FERRER FUND-RAISING EFFORT

The chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Howard Dean, yesterday pledged to help Fernando Ferrer as the mayoral candidate tries to combat Mayor Bloomberg’s deep campaign war chest and lack of support among some prominent Democrats. “We have a plan to increase his fund raising and be as helpful as we’re allowed to be under the law,” Dr. Dean said as he greeted supporters with Mr. Ferrer in Union Square. The former Vermont governor and presidential hopeful also dismissed support for Mr. Bloomberg among some leading city Democrats, including Mayor Koch and a former City Council speaker, Peter Vallone Sr. “Maybe there are three or four,” Dr. Dean said. “I speak for the Democratic Party. …The Democratic Party of the United States of America is vigorously supporting Freddy Ferrer.” Dr. Dean appeared with Mr. Ferrer in advance of a $1,000-a-head fund-raiser last night at a Chelsea restaurant. Mr. Ferrer also appeared yesterday in Brooklyn with Senator Schumer, who endorsed him last month. – Special to the Sun

STATEWIDE

REPORT: CHARTER SCHOOLS SERVE FEWER SPECIAL ED STUDENTS

Charter schools serve a smaller percentage of special education students than traditional public schools, according to a state Education Department report. Statewide, special education students comprise 11.9% of students in traditional public schools compared to 9.1% in charter schools, the report said. Critics of charter schools said the larger percentage of special-needs students dragged down the overall test scores of traditional public schools, making them appear less competitive. A spokesman for the New York Charter Schools Association disputed that assertion, saying charter schools draw many of the poorest students from neighboring schools. Poverty is considered to be a proven obstacle to higher academic performance, the spokesman added.

The report cited many reasons for the disparity: Traditional public schools label children as “disabled” more readily than charter schools; parents often don’t realize charter schools offer special education classes, or they are more comfortable with the established programs at traditional public schools.

– Special to the Sun

BUSH NOMINATES VITALIANO TO BE DISTRICT COURT JUDGE

President Bush has nominated a former Democratic state assemblyman from Staten Island, Eric Vitaliano, to be a U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern District of New York. The nomination of the nine-term assemblyman for the Eastern District court, which encompasses Brooklyn and Long Island, was requested by Senator Schumer, a Democrat of New York, in May. In his request, Mr. Schumer called Justice Vitaliano “a true moderate who will serve the court honorably and handle cases fairly.” Justice Vitaliano, who is currently an acting state Supreme Court justice, is a former chief of staff to a former Democratic congressman from Staten Island, John Murphy. – Staff Reporter of the Sun

BODIES FOUND IN RAIN-SWOLLEN RIVER

HOOSICK FALLS – The bodies of a young boy and man were pulled yesterday from the rain-swollen Hoosick River, a day after they were swept away by the gushing water.

Michael Hackett, 6, slipped into the fast-moving current around 9 Sunday morning while standing on a bank looking at the flooded river with his two brothers and his mother’s boyfriend, 39-year-old Robert Scanlon.

Scanlon – an attorney from Bennington, Vt. – dove into the river to save the boy, police said. Witnesses watched helplessly as the two bobbed in the swift-moving rapids before being swept under a bridge and disappearing.

– Associated Press

JAIL DEPUTY ACCUSED OF SEXUAL CONTACT WITH FEMALE INMATES

A 21-year veteran jail deputy was arrested after allegedly having inappropriate sexual contact with two female inmates, Onondaga County Sheriff Kevin Walsh said yesterday. John Geruso, 51, of Syracuse, was suspended for 30 days without pay following his arrest Friday. He was charged with four counts each of second-degree sexual abuse and official misconduct, both misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail.

Both victims alleged that Mr. Geruso had inappropriate sexual contact with them on four separate occasions in March while they were being held at the Onondaga County Justice Center, where Mr. Geruso was a deputy responsible for supervising inmates. – Associated Press

BRONX

PROTESTERS DECRY CONDITIONS AT MEXICAN COSTUME FACTORY

Labor advocates demonstrated at a Bronx Target store yesterday to call attention to conditions at a Mexican costume factory where they say workers have been illegally locked out. About a dozen protesters chanted “Hey hey, ho ho, child labor has got to go!” in front of the Riverdale store where, they said, Halloween costumes made by Queens-based Rubie’s Costume Company include Barbie and Harry Potter outfits from a Rubie’s factory in Tepeji del Rio, Mexico.

A representative of the Labor Federation of Workers, known by its Spanish initials, FTVO, Jorge Perez Ibarra, read a letter to Target CEO Robert Ulrich alleging that sweatshop conditions at the Rubie’s factory include “child labor, forced pregnancy testing, horrible sanitary conditions, and frequent workplace accidents.” – Associated Press