KATE STOCKRAHM, BYLINE: From Columbia Radio News in New York City, I’m Kate Stockrahm.
Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark is the latest New York City prosecutor to announce she’ll throw out convictions made by former NYPD Detective Joseph Franco.
Franco was indicted in 2019 for lying under oath about drug sales he claimed to have witnessed.
The move comes after both the Brooklyn and Manhattan DAs announced they plan to dismiss convictions by Franco, as well.
Together, the dismissals would represent one of the largest conviction purges in state history, totaling over 300 by a single detective.
Governor Cuomo introduced a 25 million dollar energy management program today. Its goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by incentivizing energy efficiency in commercial buildings. Cuomo said such buildings are “one of the largest sources of harmful greenhouse gas emissions in our state.”
And a video of a robotic NYPD “dog” with surveillance capabilities has gone viral.
MARIE MCKINSTRY: “That’s R2D2 y'all. Never seen nothing like that in my life. R2D2.”
STOCKRAHM: The video was filmed in the aftermath of an arrest at a New York City Housing Authority complex in Manhattan. It’s been posted for three days, and has amassed over 8½ million views. It’s also spurred debate about the ethics of police surveillance. Senator Brad Hoylman tweeted: "This money should be invested in NYCHA and our communities, not in new ways to spy on us."
April 15 marks two anniversaries for famed New York figures. On this day in 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first Black player in major league baseball when he joined the Dodgers at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn.
And, although Jeffrey Ross Hyman -- better known as Joey Ramone of The Ramones -- passed away 20 years ago today, the Queens-born musician continues to rock on.
For Columbia Radio News, I’m Kate Stockrahm.
Photo © Samuel Regan-Asante
Music © The Ramones
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