New York Desk
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

STATEWIDE
PRESIDENT CLINTON CAMPAIGNING FOR SENATOR CLINTON
President Clinton is using his political muscle to drum up contributions for his wife’s upcoming Senate campaign. In an e-mail from Friends of Hillary yesterday, Mr. Clinton urged supporters to donate to Senator Clinton’s 2006 campaign by December 31, the fund-raising deadline for this period. “I am so proud of Hillary and her work in the Senate,” the letter said. “Now I’m asking you to be sure she will be able to continue, and that she’ll have the support she needs in the year ahead.” Mr. Clinton also called his wife a “fighter” and said she was trying to “get this country going in a different direction. It’s up to us to make sure she has the resources to do just that,” he said. Mr. Clinton is becoming increasingly visible in his wife’s campaign. Earlier this month, he hosted a fund-raiser at the Chelsea nightclub Crobar for Mrs. Clinton, who has been named as a possible presidential candidate for 2008.
– Staff Reporter of the Sun
CITYWIDE
BLOOMBERG TO SIGN LEGISLATION TO BOOST BROADBAND
Mayor Bloomberg is scheduled to sign legislation today that could be a boost for broadband Internet access in the city. The legislation, which was passed last week by the City Council, will create a “broadband advisory committee” to look at how the city can use its resources to expand broadband technology, particularly in neighborhoods that only have dial-up Internet access now. The sponsor of the legislation, Council Member Gale Brewer, said the measure is crucial because “other parts of the world and other cities in the United States have less expensive, higher capacity infrastructures.” The 15-member committee will have eight members appointed by the mayor and seven by the new council speaker. The creation of an advisory committee has support from Internet providers such as Earthlink, which testified in favor of it. But the idea of expanding broadband may face opposition from telecommunication companies in the city.
– Staff Reporter of the Sun
JUNIOR GOTTI SAYS HE HAS NO PROBLEM WITH HIS LAWYER
John “Junior” Gotti insisted he wanted a co-defendant’s attorney to represent him at his racketeering retrial, despite a judge’s warning yesterday that the lawyer might be forced to give biased advice because of a conflict of interest. Gotti told a U.S. district judge, Shira Scheindlin, that attorney Charles Carnesi was the best lawyer for him because he was already familiar with the case, which goes to trial again on February 13. “I think you’d be better off with a lawyer who has no conflict problems,” Judge Scheindlin told Gotti, who shrugged off the conflict. At one point, Judge Scheindlin even offered to let Gotti speak for free to a neutral lawyer she had invited to court solely for that purpose. “I’m okay,” Gotti said. Then he added, “It would be the first free lawyer I’ve ever spoken with.”
– Associated Press
SOME RIDERS RUN INTO PROBLEMS WITH HOLIDAY METROCARDS
Some riders have reported problems with holiday MetroCards that have not compensated them for the three-day strike, but the cards have been extended to make up for the time lost during the work stoppage, a New York City Transit spokesman said. Riders who purchased time-based MetroCards will not lose time on them. Weekly MetroCards will be extended for three days plus a holiday bonus of an extra day and monthly MetroCards will be compensated for three days plus a holiday bonus of four days.
– Special to the Sun
POLICE BLOTTER
MAN WANTED IN STRING OF ROBBERIES
Police are looking for a man they believe robbed at least five banks in Queens and Brooklyn over the past month, police said yesterday. The unidentified black man is believed to be in his 20s and was last seen Monday when he robbed the Northfork Savings Bank on Queens Boulevard in Elmhurst, police said. According to police, the man passed a note demanding money to a bank employee, then fled with an undetermined amount of cash. Police said he verbally threatened the employee, but did not display a weapon. Police said they believe the man also robbed a Chase Bank and a Banco Popular in Williamsburg on December 23, as well as a Banco Popular in Queens on December 20 and a Ridgewood Savings Bank in Queens on December 2. Police said the man has been described as around 5 feet 7 inches tall and 170 pounds.
– Special to the Sun