POLICE BLOTTER

FAMILY OF FOUR FOUND DEAD IN APARTMENT

A family of four was found dead in their Harlem apartment last night, apparently from carbon monoxide poisoning, police said. Police did not provide the names of the victims, who were Asian, but said they included a father and mother, both 42 years old; a son, who police said was about 8 years old, and a daughter, who was approximately 6 years old.

An elderly woman who police said was a family member, lived in the second floor apartment at the Morningside Gardens housing complex, and was found barely conscious in another room of the apartment. She was given oxygen and taken to St. Luke’s Hospital. Police said they found six pots and pans filled with burning charcoal on a rack in the rooms where the bodies were discovered. A blanket hung over the door of the room to seal it. The sealed room apparently saved the life of the elderly woman. A cousin from New Jersey discovered the bodies after rushing to the apartment with a feeling something was wrong. She had earlier received word of a suspicious letter one of the victims had mailed to Taiwan, police said. Police said they did not find a suicide note in the apartment. Fire officials found a lethal level of carbon monoxide in the apartment. Fire officials found a level of 71 parts per million of carbon monoxide in the apartment. Anything between nine and 100 parts per million of carbon monoxide is reason to evacuate, the Fire Department said.

– Special to the Sun

CITYWIDE

BLOOMBERG DENOUNCES JUDGE SELECTION PROCESS

Mayor Bloomberg denounced the current process for selecting judges last night and vowed to push for major reforms if elected for a second term. Speaking at a dinner at the Waldor Astoria hosted by the Citizens Union, Mr. Bloomberg called on lawmakers in Albany to establish screening panels to evaluate judges’ credentials before their names are put on the ballot. The topic of judicial reform was thrust into the spotlight when the boss of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, Clarence Norman, was indicted and then convicted last month for soliciting illegal campaign contributions. “How many party bosses need to be indicted” before significant reforms are made for selecting judges, the mayor said. Mr. Bloomberg also wants the deadline for voter registration to be extended to 10 days before an election, from the 25 days currently allowed. The Brooklyn’s district attorney’s office is said to have expanded the scope of its investigation to determine whether any influential members of the party were accepting payoffs to back judges. In the heavily Democratic borough, winning the party line on the ballot is tantamount to winning an election.

– Staff Reporter of the Sun

PORT AUTHORIT Y TO SPEND $3.1B TO REPLACE TRAIN CAR FLEET

The Port Authority will spend $3.1 billion to replace its 340-car fleet with new train cars featuring closed-circuit television. Like the newest subway trains, the PATH cars, to be built by Kawasaki Rail Car Incorporated of Japan, will feature pre-recorded station announcements. The cars are part of an $809 million PATH modernization program. The car purchase is the largest single investment in the rapid-transit system since the Port Authority acquired the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad in 1962.

– Special to the Sun

WOMAN ARRESTED FOR ACCEPTING ILLEGAL SUBSIDIES

Authorities arrested a woman yesterday who allegedly took more than $23,000 in Section 8 housing payments for an apartment she didn’t live in. The city’s Department of Investigation announced the arrest yesterday of Clara Reyes, 61, for allegedly taking subsidies from between $351 and $401 a month from 1999 to 2004 to be used toward her monthly rent for an apartment in the Morris Heights section of the Bronx. Ms. Reyes received the money as part of the New York City Housing Authority Section 8 program, though she sublet the $495-a-month apartment for $400 while living in a house her son owned elsewhere in the Bronx, according to a statement by the Department of Investigation. Ms. Reyes has been charged with grand larceny and could face up to seven years in prison if convicted.

– Special to the Sun

SENATE RESTORES 9/11 AID FOR INJURED WORKERS

The Senate voted yesterday to restore $125 million of September 11 aid that was caught in a months-long tug of war between budget-cutters and advocates for sick ground zero workers. Senator Clinton announced the deal on the Senate floor, offering an amendment with Senator Schumer to restore the unspent workers’ compensation money, and the measure was quickly approved on a voice vote.

– Associated Press

LONG ROAD AHEAD FOR VICTIMS OF ’93 WTC BOMBING

Victims of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing have finally won a court victory in their long-running civil lawsuit against the Port Authority. But it could still be a long time before they get a dime from the agency. The trial that ended Wednesday with a verdict against the Port Authority was only to determine liability in the 1993 blast that killed six people. Separate trials are expected to be held to determine damages for some 400 plaintiffs, and verdicts in those cases could be appealed by the Port Authority. The agency has already promised to appeal its trial loss to the highest court possible.

– Associated Press

COUNCIL APPROVES LANDMARK DESIGNATION FOR PLAZA INTERIOR ROOMS

The City Council yesterday approved the landmark designation of interior rooms in the Plaza Hotel. The council’s official backing formalized an agreement brokered by Mayor Bloomberg earlier this year that paved the way for the hotel’s renovation, with large portions of the building to be converted to luxury condominiums. Eight of the Plaza’s most famous rooms now have landmark status, including the Grand Ballroom, the Oak Bar, the Oak Room, and the Palm Court.

– Special to the Sun

CONSUMER AFFAIRS CITES FUNIRTURE STORES FOR DECEPTIVE PRACTICES

After moving into his new Staten Island condominium, Igor Rutenberg, 47, paid $10,000 to furnish the place. The furniture never arrived. Luz Morales, 52, encountered a similar situation in Washington Heights; she lost $1,500 and only received a damaged table. They were two of 150 violations logged by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs for allegedly deceptive practices by four furniture retailers – Sleepy’s, Jennifer Convertibles Incorporated, Calidad Furniture Corporation, and Viva Casa. Sleepy’s, the largest outfit with 300 stores, allegedly had the majority of violations with 115. An attorney for Sleepy’s, Adam Blank, said, “Our policies were simply misquoted.” An attorney for Calidad, Jacques Catafago, said he was disturbed that consumer affairs was “attempting to adjudicate” the matter before the press. Jennifer Convertibles did not return a call seeking comment. Viva Casa could not be reached for comment.

– Staff Reporter of the Sun

TRISTATE

FORRESTER CLEARED OF CRIMINAL WRONGDOING OVER CONTRIBUTIONS

TRENTON, N.J. – The attorney general’s office yesterday said contributions Republican Doug Forrester’s company made to his gubernatorial campaign and to other candidates do not merit criminal prosecution. The ruling puts to rest questions about whether Mr. Forrester made illegal campaign donations to himself and others. Mr. Forrester is a majority owner in an insurance brokerage, and state law bars those with a majority interest in insurance or banking firms from contributing to political campaigns.

– Associated Press