Charged with grand larceny
Claudio Tavarez, the comptroller for the September 11th Families Association, has been arrested for stealing $17,500 of the organization’s funds.
Tavarez wrote 15 checks to himself from the nonprofit’s account between July 10, 2009 and April 19, 2010, forging the signature of the chief operating officer. He concealed the address on the checks, and recorded in the association’s register that they were sent to vendors.
Taverez, who resigned from the organization in mid-2010, is being charged with grand larceny in the third degree and falsifying business records in the first degree, according to criminal court records from the New York District Attorney’s office.
The charges entail stealing property exceeding three thousand dollars, with the intent to defraud, commit, aid and conceal another crime, and making a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, according to the records.
Tavarez was arraigned on February 15, and his first court appearance is scheduled for May 10. He was appointed as comptroller in 2006 to oversee the organization’s bookkeeping and accounting operations.
Millennium eyes borders
Millennium High School, starved of classroom space and a gymnasium, is hoping against hope that the New York City Department of Education will consider granting it soon-to-be vacant space nearby.
Borders bookstore will close its 29,000 square-foot chain at 100 Broadway, down the street from Millennium, by the end of April, according to company spokesperson Mary Davidson. “If the products sell quickly,” she said, “the stores close earlier.”
The company recently filed for Chapter 11 status, forcing it to shutter 200 stores nationwide.
Community Board 1, upon hearing the news, proposed that the D.O.E. sign a lease for the space and site an annex or a gym for Millennium there. “The School Construction Authority said they’d look into it,” said C.B. 1 Chair Julie Menin, who mentioned the idea in passing at the February 22 full-board meeting.
Amish Market’s parent company files bankruptcy
Tribeca Market L.L.C., owner and operator of the Amish Market at 53 Park Place in the Financial District, declared bankruptcy on February 22.
The market, however, will stay open, according to Jody Titale, part owner of the company, which is undergoing structural reorganization and a change in its litigation and tax procedures. The Chapter 11 filing, Titale said, had nothing to do with the business’s revenue, which has been strong as of late. “It really was a non-business factor,” he said, “but it caused the store to file also, since the store is an asset of the parent company.”
Titale assured that the bankruptcy of its parent company would not put the store’s fate in jeopardy.
Community Board 1 meetings
A schedule of this week’s upcoming Community Board 1 committee meetings is below. Unless otherwise noted, all committee meetings are held at the board office, located at 49-51 Chambers St., room 709 at 6 p.m.
ON WED., MARCH 2: C.B. 1’s Financial District Committee will meet.
ON THURS., MARCH 3: C.B. 1’s Planning and Community Infrastructure Committee will meet.
ON MON., MARCH 7: C.B. 1’s Executive Committee will meet.
ON TUES., MARCH 8: C.B. 1’s Youth & Education Committee will meet.
