Staten Island: #1 in hate! Three 14-year-old Hispanic students and one 15-year-old black student on Staten Island were arrested yesterday and charged with assault and aggravated harassment as a hate crime. This makes the 12th bias crime allegation (many have been assaults on Mexicans) on Staten Island since April, the Staten Island Advance reports, making 2010 a record-breaking year for hate crime. In this case, the boys are accused of repeatedly assaulting a Muslim classmate, in one instance beating him so severely that there was blood in his urine and the boy suffered headaches and memory loss. more ›

The NYPD Hate Crimes Unit is looking into yet another incident in the Port Richmond area of Staten Island. This time, Jonas Vidals, who is Hispanic, and his wife returned home late Saturday night to find three men standing outside and yelling racial slurs at them. When the tried to go inside, one of the men allegedly yelled, "If you don't leave, I'll shoot you." This is the 11th time the Unit has investigated a hate crime in the area since April, but authorities say only six of the incidents have been motivated by bias. more ›

A few days after yet another Mexican was beaten by a group of teenagers on Staten Island, Archbishop Timothy Dolan delivered a sermon in an attempt to calm and soothe the community. He said in a sermon delivered in Spanish, "We will reclaim our streets. God lives in these streets. Fear, violence and hate do not live here." more ›

In light of the recent string of bias attacks in Port Richmond, Bronx State Sen. Ruben Diaz Jr. led a rally with community activists from Brooklyn calling for unity between the African-American and Hispanic communities. However, State Sen. Diane Savino and Assemblyman Matthew Titone of Staten Island say Diaz should stay in his own district! Titone came prepared for the shouting match that erupted on the steps of a local church, and while holding up a black wig and a high heeled shoe, said, "If they are going to act like media whores, they should at least dress the part." Because what better way is there to solve hate crimes than to call people names and tell them to go back where they came from? more ›

A teenager boy originally arrested as a juvenile for the beating of a Mexican immigrant in the Port Richmond area of Staten Island was charged as an adult yesterday. Derrian Williams, a Liberian native, was originally thought to be 15, was to be prosecuted in Family Court. But the Staten Island District Attorney said investigators discovered Williams was actually 17, and he was indicted as an adult yesterday on charges of robbery, assault and harassment as a hate crime. more ›

The latest victim of a hate crime in Staten Island is speaking out about the attack. Christian Vasquez, 18, is entering his senior year of high school, and was jumped by a group of men on his way home from work early Saturday morning. Velazquez told 1010WINS, "They were really kicking me hard and going at me when I was on the floor." He also believes his attackers were "drunk" or "very high." Vasquez says the attacks are particularly hurtful because, "All this happened because I'm Mexican. My parents brought me here from Mexico to get a better life." Now, police have arrested a 15-year-old boy for the attack. more ›

[UPDATE BELOW] Locals and community leaders are trying to come up with every possible explanation for why bias attacks have been on the rise in Staten Island. And gay bashing aside, some think they've found an answer: the economy! Most of the immigrants attacked have been jumped on their way home from work at restaurants, where it's likely they would be paid in cash. Residents say the "knockouts" are just to nab the cash on pay day. And all those racial slurs? Well, there's more to life than money. more ›

Last night, another Mexican immigrant was attacked on the streets of Port Richmond in Staten Island. A 17-year-old Mexican boy was allegedly attacked and robbed by three men yelling racial slurs on his way home from work near Castleton and Simonson Avenues. This is the 11th time the NYPD's Hates Crimes Task Force has investigated an incident in the area this year. However, the community is not sure whether to label the attack a hate crime. more ›

In response to a recent series of hate crimes on Staten Island, the NYPD is trying to reverse the alarming trend. WCBS reports that officers are on every corner of the Port Richmond section of the borough, which has been the location of most of the attacks. The Guardian Angels supplemented the police force, and Curtis Sliwa spoke of how the violence starts. "It's simply young people packing up, posseing up, mostly on their bicycles, and then all of a sudden saying let's go hunt Mexicans. And others who may have seen it, who may be Mexicans, who won't report it to the police because they fear being deported." more ›

The house fire that claimed the lives of a mother and her four children in Staten Island's Port Richmond section yesterday morning may have been arson—and police suspect it was a murder-suicide committed by the eldest child. The Staten Island Advance reports, "Police believe 14-year-old C.J. Jones slit the throats of his sisters, 7-year-old Melonie and 10-year-old Brittney, torched his family’s apartment on the second floor of 302 Nicholas Ave., then ran a razor across his own throat." more ›

Early this morning, around 4 a.m., a three-alarm fire broke out in a home in the Port Richmond section of Staten Island. Firefighters were on the scene at 4:13 a.m. and got it under control by 5:48 a.m., but the fire moved too fast and killed a mother and her four children, ages 2, 7, 10 and 14. According to 1010WINS, "Fire officials say it originated on the second floor and quickly spread to the attic and through the roof." more ›

Cops have arrested a Staten Island man after a car chase through Port Richmond on Monday. Andrew Gibbs, 30, ran two red lights at 60mph, jumping a curb and making pedestrians scramble out of the way. With cops in pursuit he ran into a bus stop, and then reportedly kicked out a rear passenger window in an attempt to escape. Cops were able to subdue him after blasting him with pepper spray, and soon discovered he was driving with a suspended license and a bag of marijuana in his pocket. Jackpot! more ›

In a wave of crime that has Port Richmond residents concerned, a Hispanic man was pummeled on Richmond Terrace on Wednesday evening. The assailants yelled anti-Mexican slurs at him, and left him with a bruised and swollen face. This has been the fifth bias attack in the borough since April, three of which have occurred in the Port Richmond area. more ›

Theresa Alonso, a 64-year-old grandmother in Staten Island, was fatally struck by an 18-wheeler yesterday while crossing Port Richmond Avenue. Returning to the Buckingham House retirement center for a BBQ she had helped plan, Alonso was still in the middle of Port Richmond Avenue when the light turned green (hip surgery forced her to walk slowly). The driver said he didn't see her over the hood of his truck. more ›

After one Mexican immigrant was attacked with a baseball bat in Port Richmond a few weeks ago, NY1 reports that two other Mexican men were attacked in the same way this past month, one on Clove Road on April 10th and the other on Castleton Avenue this past Sunday. Project Hospitality spokesman Terry Troia said, "You ask the question, why this level of violence? Why are Mexicans being targeted? Is this anti-immigrant, is this bias against Mexicans?...it's instilled fear in the community." Police don't believe the attacks are connected, and are only calling the attack against Rodolfo Olmedo a hate crime since racial slurs were not used in the other two attacks. more ›

A Staten Island man accused of stabbing a 54-year-old to death told reporters he was on drugs when he committed the crime. While waiting to enter court for his arraignment, 23-year-old Jahaad Chesson tried to tell his "side of the story," stating: "I was high as a mother [expletive] when I did it." Here's footage of the bizarre exchange from the Staten Island Advance: more ›

A medical examiner on Staten Island has ruled that the death of the student body president at Port Richmond High School was a suicide. The Staten Island Advance reports that 18-year-old Jin Ju Kim died on Monday after an overdose led to "complications from acetaminophen toxicity." Students and staff were informed of the senior's death just before the school went on Spring Break this week. On a memorial page set up for Kim, Port Richmond Principal Timothy Gannon said, "Jin Ju was a breath of fresh air. She gave our school a smile each and every day and always made us feel so special. Every time I met with Jin Ju, she gave me a big smile that reminded me how special all of our students are." more ›

The court documents revealed a disturbing incident from the weekend: Thirty-three-year-old William Johnson poured rubbing alcohol on his girlfriend and then lit her on fire. The girlfriend, Cindy Zucker, is now in critical condition, with burns on 20-35% of her body. more ›

Last night, a woman was killed outside her Staten Island home. The victim, in her 40s, lived at 29 Newark Avenue in the Port Richmond section and was shot multiple times in her back. Her 26-year-old son was also shot in the stomach, and police believe he was trying to protect his mother. more ›

Police charged a man with rape, assault, and burglary for a Monday afternoon attack on a senior citizen in the Port Richmond neighborhood of Staten Island. Julio Lainez allegedly broke into Sarah Dotwin's home while Dotwin was upstairs and her husband was at the doctor's. When she heard breaking glass, Dotwin went downstairs to investigate, only for a man to repeatedly punch her in the face and chest. more ›

The ASPCA is investigating a strange case in Staten Island: Someone shot a Port Richmond Yorkshire Terrier, who was sitting on the front porch, with an air rifle on Tuesday. The dog died in surgery the next day. more ›

What happens when a Port Richmond High School student posts a video on YouTube asking someone to put a bullet in a teacher's neck? Why, the police arrest the 16-year-old! Matthew Pacelli was thrown in jail for a night after the authorities saw his April 8 video where he complains about his report card. more ›

The only thing better than a tasty slice of pizza on a warm summer day in New York City is a tasty slice of pizza and a squeeze cup full of Italian ice. It’s been a grand culinary tradition in this town for generations: pizza and a frozen treat. more ›

As if Mayor Bloomberg didn't have enough problems, New Yorkers are doubting his loyalty to the New York Yankees, as he is a Massachusetts native. Gothamist would like to see his poll numbers broken down by Yankees fans, Mets fans, Giants fans, Jets fans, Knicks fans, and disaffected sports ignorami from this point forward. [Actually, we'd really like to see voter breakdowns between those who watch Law & Order, Sex and the City, and Curb Your Enthusiasm (L.A., aka Crazyland, but Larry David's jerkiness rings true to his New York roots), but don't know if Bloomby's pollsters would want to bother.] But Mayor Bloomberg did make a "friendly wager" with Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino about the American League Championship Series, and Bloomby's speechwriters are pretty good: more ›