Too 'revolutionary'?

Former Riverdale resident Ted Kheel thinks he has the perfect solution to easing city traffic: raise the driving toll into Manhattan to $16 and make all mass transit free. But, as he states in this City Hall Op-ed, the plan "didn't penetrate the [congestion pricing] commission's thinking."
Mr. Kheel admits, "something so revolutionary takes time to absorb. But a year ago, hardly anyone outside of traffic experts had even heard of congestion pricing. Mayor Bloomberg and the traffic commission deserve our thanks for putting it on the civic front burner."

'Eligible bachelors'

Super Tuesday is long gone, and without the thrill of a presidential contest, some folks might be feeling cold and alone.
If that’s you, The Capitol has the answer. Curl up with a blanket, a pint of Haagen-Dazs and that scratched-up When Harry Met Sally DVD this Valentine’s Day — and maybe place a call to one of these eligible politicos at their district offices.
The list includes Riverdale’s state Sens. Eric Schneiderman, 53 — who tells The Capitol “There are great Dominican clubs and restaurants, no question” in Upper Manhattan and that’s “where I love to hang out” — and 47-year-old heartthrob Jeff Klein.
Go easy on Jeff, who said he just got out of a long-term relationship and doesn’t think Albany is the best place to go for a state senator looking for love.
“It’s not what you would call a meet-and-greet town,” he told the publication.

Out of the gate running

North Riverdale resident and Community Board 8 Chairman Tony Cassino hasn’t officially announced his candidacy for City Council, but that hasn’t stopped his supporters from contributing to his campaign.
So far, the state Board of Election reports, Mr. Cassino has roughly $55,000 in his coffers.
That sum, according to the Feb. 11 online edition of City Hall, puts him among the top five non-incumbent fund raisers so far for a City Council seat. The other candidates mentioned were Paul Vallone, son of former City Council Speaker Peter Vallone Sr. and brother of Queens City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. ($47,614); Michael Simanowitz, chief of staff to Queens Assemblywoman Nettie Mayersohn ($56,773); Brad Lander, a housing advocate from Brooklyn ($63,015); and Brooklyn-born David Greenfield ($170, 619).
Mr. Cassino plans to make a decision on running sometime this summer, he said. Meanwhile, he shared his “fund-raising secrets” with the paper.
So far, there are only two confirmed candidates for the local City Council seat, which will be vacated next year when Oliver Koppell is forced out due to term limits. Helen Morik, a Riverdale resident, and Jamin Sewell, an aide to Mr. Koppell, have said they plan on running.

African penpals

Students in the genocide class at the David A. Stein Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy, MS/HS 141, are continuing to correspond with Rwandan students as part of an ongoing exchange project.

The brainchild of art teacher Deborah Roessel, the exchange is funded by a mini-grant from the school’s parent association. Last fall, students at both schools exchanged videos, asking and answering questions like, “What do you think about America?” and “What do you want to be when you grow up?” The attached video chronicles some of the exchanges between the two schools.