IN THE COURTS TWU PRESIDENT TO APPEAR IN COURT ON CHARGES OF ILLEGAL STRIKE

The president of the transport Workers’ Union Local 100, Roger Toussaint, and other top union officers are expected to appear in Brooklyn Supreme Court today on charges that they led their union on an illegal strike. During the three-day strike last December, the state brought Mr. Toussaint and his officers, including the secretary treasurer, Ed Watt, to court to decide whether they should be jailed for breaking the state’s Taylor law, which prevents public sector unions from going on strike. The court heard arguments on Friday on whether $3 million in fines should be leveled against the union. Union lawyers said the fines would force them to close. State prosecutors said the union broke the law and must pay for it.

– Special to the Sun

JUDGE RECUSES HIMSELF FROM RULING ON LAWYER’S FEE IN HOLOCAUST CASE

The federal judge overseeing the distribution of a $1.25 billion settlement for Holocaust survivors has asked another judge to decide what portion will go to a lawyer involved in the case. A chief judge, Edward Korman, of the U.S. District Court in Brooklyn stated in an April 4 order that he decided to recuse himself from ruling on lawyer Burt Neuborne’s request for a $4.1 million fee. A number of Holocaust survivors and attorneys oppose Mr. Neuborne’s request for payment, claiming that Mr. Neuborne said he was working pro bono on the Swiss banks case that resulted in the settlement. Since 1999, Mr. Neuborne and Judge Korman have worked together to distribute the funds among different – even competing – groups of Holocaust survivors worldwide. Referring to Mr. Neuborne, Judge Korman wrote: “The pendency of the present application, however, has adversely impacted my ability to work with him. Thus, I have not had any contact with Professor Neuborne for sometime.” Judge Frederic Block has been assigned to rule on Mr. Neuborne’s fee request.

– Staff Reporter of the Sun

CITYWIDE

COUNCIL MEMBER INTRODUCES ‘CODE OF CONDUCT’ GUN BILL

A City Council member of Brooklyn is introducing a bill that would subject local and out-of-state gun dealers and manufacturers to fines if they violate a “code of conduct” for the gun industry. The proposal by Council Member David Yassky follows ramped up anti-gun rhetoric by Mayor Bloomberg, who has signaled that targeting illegal guns in the city would be a priority in his second term. Under Mr. Yassky’s bill, gun dealers would face up to $100,000 in fines if a gun they sold was used in a crime in the city and if it was determined that the dealer flouted guidelines that include maintaining records, selling only from a storefront location, and prohibiting and not selling more than one gun to a person in a 30-day period. The mayor signed a similar bill in January 2005 that would have allowed victims of gun violence to sue dealers and manufacturers, but a federal bill passed last summer prohibited such lawsuits.

– Staff Reporter of the Sun

CITY EXPECTED TO GET PUBLIC APPROVAL TO FINALIZE WATER PARK DEAL

The city is expected to get public approval this week to amend its contract with the beverage giant Snapple and to finalize a deal to build a Great Adventure-style water park on Randall’s Island. The city’s Franchise Concession and Review Committee is scheduled to meet today and vote tomorrow on both deals. Last month, the city’s Marketing Developing Corporation requested permission from the FCRC to rehash its deal with Snapple, which has exclusive rights to sell its drinks in municipal buildings, because the city was falling dramatically short of its vending machine targets. The new deal will bring in $33 million in cash and advertising from Snapple, compared to the current deal, which is valued at $126 million. It will also require the city to increase the amount of advertising it provides for Snapple. Meanwhile, the FCRC also is expected to approve a contract the city has with the Aquatic Development Group to build a 26-acre water park in on Randall’s Island that will include water slides, wave pools, and an indoor beach. The FCRC approved the project in January and is now reviewing the lease.

– Staff Reporter of the Sun

FEW ANSWERS FOR SICK SEPTEMBER 11 WORKERS

More than four years have passed since retired fire marshal Joe Sykes walked into an asbestos-choked dust cloud after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. His health deteriorated so badly and so fast that he had to retire a year later. “I started coughing that day, and I haven’t stopped yet,” Mr. Sykes, 49, said. Government experts are still trying to figure out exactly what that exposure did to Mr. Sykes and thousands of others on September 11, but they won’t have answers any time soon. Health officials say it could take 20 years to find definite links between the toxic cloud and subsequent diseases or deaths.

– Associated Press

ALBANY

SMOKERS AVOID TAX INCREASE, BUT ANTI-SMOKING PROGRAM INCREASED

New York smokers dodged a bullet in the Legislature’s state budget, but they might not get much peace. The Legislature’s new budget eliminates Governor Pataki’s proposed $1 a pack increase in the state cigarette tax, but doubled to $85 million funding for anti-smoking campaigns and nicotine patches for those seeking to quit. “We think there will be 1 million fewer smokers in 2010” because of the enhanced anti-smoking program, the director of the Center for a Tobacco Free New York, Russell Sciandra, said. He said the education and outreach elements should help 900,000 smokers quit and 100,000 fewer youths start smoking.

– Associated Press

POLICE BLOTTER

14-YEAR-OLD GIRL SHOT DEAD AT FRIEND’S LONG ISLAND BIRTHDAY PARTY

NORTH AMITYVILLE – A 14-year-old girl dancing at a friend’s birthday party was shot through a window by someone in the back yard and died in her sister’s arms, police said. “She was on the ground, and she got up and start running to the steps, and I chased her,” the victim’s younger sister, Ashley Baker, said. “And then she fell down the steps on me. And then a few moments later she took her last breath.” The Saturday night house party was attended by about 50 people, said Suffolk County police, who were called around 11:15 p.m. and found Danielle Baker dead inside. No arrests had been made last night.

– Associated Press