But then again aren’t all the Orange County Choppers’ bikes fetish bikes? Senator Bill Larkin gives the FBI bike a try during the unveiling Monday, August 9th at the Newburgh Waterfront. The Choppers produced the bike (and another one to be raffled) for an episode that will air September 16 on TLC.
The two Bills: Larkin and Kaplan arrive at the waterfront.
Kids, sailors and cops: the three main demographic groups attending the ceremony, in reverse order of predominance.
Paul Teutul Sr. arrives on the FBI bike.
A sign for the augurs: a flock of pigeons soared overhead just before the police procession with Teutel Sr. began.
Inlaid gold detailing above the rear tire.
Seal on the front.
Teutel gives a speech and points out the features on the bike.
An example of the cops to other people ratio.
The black bike in the foreground will be raffled, with the money to support anti-gang/stop the violence programs and initiatives in Newburgh.
What’s a Newburgh event without Mayor Nick Valentine?
Where’s County Executive Eddie Diana? Maybe he was too shy to show the love for faithful campaign contributors OC Choppers. He sent Jim O’Donnell, who lurked under the canopy of the River Grill for the proceedings. Thanks, everyone!
On Friday, May 14, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman Maurice Hinchey, and Mayor Nick Valentine held a roundtable discussion on drug and gang challenges facing the Newburgh community. The session began with brief formal remarks before opening up to questions and comments from the invited community members.
Gillibrand said she is seeking funding for violence prevention efforts. From the Record:
Gillibrand said she is working on legislation that would designate $1 billion over five years toward operations that prevent violence. That would include operations such as Thursday’s raid on 78 suspected members of the Bloods and Latin Kings street gangs in Newburgh. Nearly 600 federal, state and local law enforcement agents descended on the city to arrest the targets. As of Friday evening, 64 of the 78 were in custody on federal drug charges.
Coverage of the press conference about Thursday’s raid here.
Full video of the roundtable below, or may be downloaded here:
Just a day after a New York Times article profiled the troubling impact of gangs in Newburgh, NY, multiple law enforcement agencies took action in an early morning raid this Thursday, May 13.
Later on Thursday, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara, held a press conference at the White Plains Federal Courthouse. In addition to Mr. Bharara, George Venizelos of the FBI, Newburgh Police Chief Eric Paolilli, Orange County District Attorney Frank Phillips, and Orange County Sheriff Carl DuBois spoke.
Full video of the conference is below, and may also be downloaded:
The US Attorney has charged 78 members and associates of the Newburgh Bloods and Latin Kings with nacotics-trafficking crimes. The Thursday morning strike was a collaboration of local, state and federal law enforcement, working together as the Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force.
Additional coverage here and here, and the DOJ press release here.
