CITYWIDE

Schumer Stumps For Harrison

Senator Schumer voiced optimism for the candidacy of a long-shot contender for Congress in Staten Island yesterday, calling Stephen Harrison’s challenge to Republican Rep. Vito Fossella a “winnable seat.” Mr. Schumer joined Mr. Harrison, State Senate candidate Matthew Titone, and State Assembly candidate Janele Hyer-Spencer at Fort Wadsworth, where he endorsed all three Democrats.”I want Stephen Harrison in Washington with me, to fight for the people of Staten Island and Brooklyn,” Mr. Schumer said. “I’ve been paying attention to this race for a very long time. That’s why I’m here today.” Mr. Schumer’s appearance with Mr. Harrison underscored the momentum Democrats have sensed in his candidacy following increased media attention and key endorsements. Pundits had predicted an easy win for Mr. Fossella, who was first elected in 1997 and has an enormous fund-raising advantage over Mr. Harrison. Some political observers now see a closer race shaping up.

— Special to the Sun

Protest Held To Save Gymnastics Program

A protest was held yesterday in a last ditch effort to save the home of one of the city’s most successful gymnastics programs. The city will begin removing gymnastics equipment from the Flushing Armory in Queens today in order to expand the offices of the police department that share the building. For 10 years the armory housed the training facility for the Flushing Bandits gymnastics program. Former gymnasts and current coaches reflected on the program yesterday that competed at the U.S. Junior National Championships and was a spring board for several gymnasts into Division I colleges. The YMCA of Greater New York decided to cut the program in August rather then repair the old gymnastics equipment at the facility.

— Special to the Sun

Airplanes Clip Wings At Newark Airport

Two airplanes clipped wings yesterday on a taxiway at Newark Liberty International Airport, just days after a jetliner narrowly missed the runway during a landing there. Airport officials said around 6:30 p.m., the two airplanes – one a Continental 757 and the other a Lufthansa 757 – bumped wings while both were moving slowly on the runway. At the time of the accident, the Lufthansa flight was said to be taxiing, while the Continental airplane – with no passengers on board – was being towed to an overnight parking spot, officials said. No injuries were reported to those aboard the Lufthansa flight, which included 294 passengers and the crew. The accident had no effect on airport operations, a Port Authority of New York and New Jersey spokesman, Alan Hicks, said last night. The accident comes days after another airport mishap, however. On Saturday, a Continental jet reportedly landed just north of a runway at the Newark airport, narrowly avoiding an administrative building.

— Special to the Sun

POLICE BLOTTER

Father Charged With Beating, Biting Infant

The father of a Queens baby who is brain damaged after being repeatedly struck was charged with biting the infant and hitting her multiple times in the head, police and prosecutors said yesterday. Authorities said the baby’s mother brought 2-month-old Hyewan Yoon to New York Hospital Monday night just before 10 p.m. Within the hour, she was transferred to Cornell Medical Center, where yesterday she was listed in critical condition after suffering multiple seizures and apparent brain damage, authorities said. Yesterday, police arrested the infant’s father, Sukni Yoon, 31, of 165th Street in Flushing. Prosecutors allege Mr. Yoon was home alone, babysitting the infant when her crying sent him into a rage. Prosecutors said they believe he was so angry that he repeatedly hit her across the face, shook her, and bit her leg hard enough to leave teeth marks. Queens prosecutors yesterday charged him with first- and second-degree assault and first-degree reckless endangerment of a child, according to the Queens District Attorney’s office. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.

— Special to the Sun

Homeless Man Found Dead Under No. 6 Train at Brooklyn Bridge

An unidentified homeless black man was found dead under the southbound number 6 subway train at the Brooklyn Bridge station early yesterday morning. EMS responded to a call at about 3:47 a.m. and pronounced the man dead upon their arrival at the scene. The investigation into the man’s identity and cause of death is ongoing.

— Special to the Sun

STATEWIDE

Rangel Backs Off From Cheney Comments

Rep. Charles Rangel feels bad about directing a curse word at Vice President Dick Cheney — but not too bad. Mr. Rangel, a Harlem Democrat who regularly exchanges verbal volleys with his one-time House colleague Mr. Cheney, called the vice president a “son of a bitch” Monday when asked by the New York Post about comments Mr. Cheney made about him in a television interview. “He is a son of a bitch, but I shouldn’t have said it,” Mr. Rangel told The Associated Press yesterday. “I thought that he should be flattered, there’s certainly no animosity in it,” said Mr. Rangel, saying that he had been making an observation about Mr. Cheney. “Some people just have that as part of their personality.” Mr. Rangel’s name is invoked daily by Republicans seeking to hold onto control of the House of Representatives. Democrats must gain 15 seats to become the majority party, and if they do, Mr. Rangel would become the chairman of the powerful tax-writing Ways & Means Committee. GOP leaders argue a Rangel-led committee would immediately start working to undo the Bush administration tax cuts now set to expire in 2010. Mr. Rangel said the charge is ridiculous, and he has not made any decisions about it. “They can’t get me to say I’m going to extend it. I say that just makes good economic sense to see what the status is of our economy before we start projecting what tax cuts we’ll have in the future,” said Mr. Rangel, the dean of New York’s congressional delegation. Mr. Rangel reacted to Mr. Cheney’s comments in TV interviews Monday in which he told CNBC that Mr. Rangel wouldn’t keep “a single one” of Mr. Bush’s tax cuts, and later told Fox News Channel: “Charlie doesn’t understand how the economy works.” As much as the two men dislike each other, they clearly love feuding. More than a year ago, Mr. Rangel said he would like to think Mr. Cheney is “sick rather than just mean and evil,” prompting Mr. Cheney to answer: “Charlie is losing it, I guess.”

— Associated Press