July 19, 2013 By Christian Murray
A quiet street in Woodside is going to be co-named after a man who was brutally murdered in Sunnyside last October.
The city is co-naming 51st Street (btw. 43rd and Skillman Avenues) Lou Rispoli Way, after a long-time resident who was struck down on a Sunnyside street and died five days later in Elmhurst Hospital.
Rispoli lived on 51st Street, next to John Downing Park, for 30 years and was well-respected and admired by many of his neighbors and friends. The street co-naming celebration has been scheduled for July 27.
“His murder was incredibly sad and there was an emotional outpouring of community support,” said Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, who put in the request for the co-naming.
In November, 500 people turned out for a vigil in Rispoli’s honor that started by his 51st Street coop building and went down 43rd Avenue to the place of his murder at 41-00 43rd Avenue.
“This street naming is part of the celebration of his life,” Van Bramer said. “He was a friend to so many people in our neighborhood—yet he was tragically killed in our own backyard.”
The announcement of came as a surprise to Rispoli’s husband, Danyal Lawson.
“He was surprised, shocked and totally thrilled,” said Deniz Hughes, a friend of both Lawson and Rispoli, who wrote letters to the city council in support of the street co-naming. He only learned about it at the end of last month.
Rispoli and Lawson had been married for about a year, but had been an item for 31 years.
“Lou was an exceptionally proud and generous man,” Hughes said. “It was such a shame that after all these years…when he was finally accepted as a gay married man… he was killed.”
The police appear to have made little progress in tracking down the killers.
The case appeared to have been bungled by the police from the get-go. While the police arrived shortly after Rispoli’s attack, it took them 36 hours before a crime scene vehicle showed up to conduct a thorough investigation.
The police department’s internal affairs bureau began investigated the 108 Precinct’s response to the murder in November. However, it still has not released its findings.
Vigil for held for Lou Rispoli (Photo: Rick Duro)
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61 Comments
There is still no specific documented contribution other than being gay and friends with JVB, let’s set that straight.
Yes, Karl, you are right: there will be no street named after this poor Korean woman who also had children. She did not have enough influence for the powers that be to honor her. And this is not to take away from the contributions that Mr. Rispoli made to the neighborhood. But fair, is fair.
With clout comes privileges!
JulieJ, I have no idea what has happened in that Asian lady’s murder case but safe to say, she’s not getting a street named after her. Not in this neighborhood anyway.
I feel bad about the Asian lady found stuffed in the trunk of her car. Any updates on that case?
Of course an opportunist can sue for money, the very next section provides,
“e. Preservation of rights. This section shall be in addition to all rights, procedures, and remedies available under the United States Constitution, Section 1983 of Title 42 of the United States Code, the Constitution of the State of New York and all other federal law, state law, law of the City of New York or the New York City Administrative Code, and all pre-existing civil remedies, including monetary damages, created by statute, ordinance, regulation or common law.”
What all that means is that with the new law I can go to the NYC Commission on Human Rights, tell them “I think the police officer stopped and questioned me because he thinks I’m white”, if the Commission issues a declaration that the officer did stop the individual because the officer thought he was white, the plaintiff can then sue for money under any of the laws described, the most obvious of which is 42 USC 1983. There is now no need to try in the federal civil action whether a civil right was violated because the plaintiff will use the declaration and say the question is already answered. It’s also now more likely the individual will get the declaration because the City Council has decreed that the law is to be interpreted liberally in favor of the individual. And don’t forget the encouragement to lawyers and “experts” who will get paid off with taxpayer money.
*done
I’m dine discussing this matter. Anyone interested in reading it themselves, here you go:
http://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=1444267&GUID=BCB20F20-50EF-4E9B-8919-C51E15182DBF
JOR How on earth does removing certain words and/or punctuation from a passage make it more accurate? Also. I have read the whole law. I don’t know where you are getting your info from, but this is what was actually passed:
2. The remedy in any civil action or administrative proceeding undertaken pursuant to this section shall be limited to injunctive and declaratory relief.
3. In any action or proceeding to enforce this section, the court may allow a prevailing plaintiff reasonable attorney’s fees as part of the costs, and may include expert fees as part of the attorney’s fees.
In other words, what you said about attorney/expert fees is true, but neither the NYPD or police officers can be sued for money.
Not True,
You need to understand that the passage you copied and pasted from the new law includes the old matter in brackets. So what you set forth is not an accurate copy of the law unless and until you delete the material in brackets as I did when I quoted the new law earlier. Thus, the definition of the class of persons who can sue the Police Department and individual police officers has been greatly expanded, is no longer termed racial profiling, but rather is now called “biased based profiling”. You also need to read the entire new law, including the portion that says, “It is the Council’s intent that the provisions herein be construed broadly, consistent with the Local Civil Rights Restoration Act of 2005, to ensure protection of the civil rights of all persons covered by the law” which means that courts are to favor persons who bring claims under the law. The new law added the following: “An individual subject to bias-based profiling as defined in paragraph 1 of subdivision a of this section may file a complaint with the New York City Commission on Human Rights, pursuant to Title 8 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York, or may bring a civil action against (i) any governmental body that employs any law enforcement officer who has engaged, is engaging, or continues to engage in bias-based profiling, (ii) any law enforcement officer who has engaged, is engaging, or continues to engage in bias-based profiling, and (iii) the police department where it has engaged, is engaging, or continues to engage in bias-based profiling or policies or practices that have the effect of bias-based profiling.” So if I claim that a police officer perceived me to be Caucasian and based on that perception he stopped and asked me questions in connection with canvassing an area following a recent spate of apartment burglaries, I have a lawsuit. My claim is, “I think he thinks I’m white.” Let’s not forget that the new law provides that the court may allow “plaintiff reasonable attorney’s fees as part of the costs, and may include expert fees as part of the attorney’s fees” so people like Al Sharpton who gained his expertise in the Tawana Brawley matter can make a living off of taxpayer money in manufacturing lawsuits under the new law.
So sorry that the life and death of Lou Rispoli has not impressed upon you as he has on the rest of us who knew him – if only because it points to a lack of compassion on your part. This is the last I will speak on the issue – you can all fend for yourselves.
PLEASE CALL 1-866-313-TIPS FOR ANY INFORMATION LEADING TO ANY INFORMATION ON THE MURDER OF LOU RISPOLI. THANK YOU.
. “[Racial or ethnic]Bias-based profiling” means an act of a member of the force of the police department or other law enforcement officer that relies on actual or perceived race, [ethnicity, religion or] national origin, color, creed, age, alienage or citizenship status, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or housing status as the determinative factor in initiating law enforcement action against an individual, rather than an individual’s behavior or other information or circumstances that links a person or persons [of a particular race, ethnicity, religion national origin] to suspected unlawful activity.
This is taken directly from the new law
JOR – the city council did not approve suing for money. They approved the ability to bring charges which could result in changes to procedure.
Secondly, in no way is there any part of either law that states a police officer can not use race etc. for the description if a suspect. It reinforced the laws on the books that you can’t stop someone “just” because of race, religion, sexual orientation etc. In other words, if a crime was commuted by a transgendered African American, the police absolutely can be on the lookout for someone of that description. But, if there is no actual suspect meeting that description, the police can’t stop every black transgendered individual they see just because they are black and/or transgendered.
Man I was hoping for some really distinguished accomplishments…
Sorry Heartbroken, it really is a sad situation, but I didn’t read anything that warrants a street named after Mr. Rispoli.
Sounds like there may be a case against the NYPD or the hospital.
Heartbroken,
You confuse people saying things you don’t want to hear and asking inconvenient questions, holding different viewpoints and yes criticism, as discrimination. It isn’t.
Sorry but being gay doesn’t make one immune to having people disagree with you. Being gay does not mean that everyone must say “how high?” when you give the order to jump. Stop using your grief and victimhood to smear people who aren’t in lock-step with your political agenda or dare to ask questions.
And before you say or imply it, no, I don’t believe gay people should be subjected to violence simply because who they are. I’m sorry to hear about the violent incidents in the past you mention. Those acts are totally unacceptable and the perpetrators should be prosecuted vigorously. I’d appreciate it if you did not lump people who simply don’t agree with you on a message board in with the thugs who beat up your friend. That’s a cheap shot.
That said, I still say he’s no more deserving of a street name than countless other people in the neighborhood who have contributed greatly, served others and perhaps also died tragically. Why do you have so little regard for them?
This is obviously politically motivated. The gay movement, like any other, needs martyrs to further the cause and you are determined that he shall be one, despite the fact we still have no idea what the motivation was behind the murder. Yet the term “hate crime” is continually bandied about and accepted as conventional wisdom. Anyone who doesn’t see it that way or wants to wait for all the facts, is clearly a “hater.”
I feel bad for Mr. Rispoli. But naming a street for him?
I have lived in this area for over 25 years, and after this exchange right here, I have to say I am truly happy about the new folks coming in, changing the face of this neighborhood for the better. The Old Timers are just not going to get it – until of course they were to become the victims of the sort of profiling they’ve been so gratuitously dishing out for decades.
Lou was a high-profile veteran of The Gay Wars in New York City. He marched in parades when people spat at him. He stared down people on the subways who felt quite comfortable sneering at him because of his sexual orientation. He was seriously attacked by a group of gay bashers years ago while walking in Greenwich Village – it made the news then too. He also actively took care of many many friends who died terrible deaths from AIDS.
He was a great big giant strong man, who couldn’t comfortably hold hands in public with the love of his life – for thirty years. (If you’re straight, try to imagine the reality of that, not holding hands for thirty years.) He was so happy and amazed when he could get legally married, and even more so when everyone around him celebrated in his joy. The last year of his life was truly his happiest because he felt so accepted.
But he was attacked last October. Even though the caller to 911 reported the attack, the police for some reason treated him as a drunk (he was throwing up but not because he had alcohol or drugs in him, but because he was having convulsions). We think they must have admitted Lou into the hospital as an inebriated individual (we still don’t know any of these details, the police are refusing to inform us as to exactly what happened.) We don’t know how long he stayed there in the Emergency Room without anyone paying any real attention to him. But what we do know is some eight to ten hours later, when they tried to aggressively save him, it was too late. There had been much too much bleeding in his brain.
Lou was a high school teacher in the South Bronx back in the 70’s, when you wouldn’t even want to set foot on the sidewalks there. He loved his time there. Some of the kids from back then remember him well, credit him with permanently influencing their lives – many went on to college as a direct result of him.
He collected hundreds upon hundreds of signatures for any politician who forwarded his agenda – that is to say, anyone who made it their agenda to ensure that being gay was nothing to discriminate against – exactly as some of you on this list have been comfortably doing so for years and years.
PLEASE ANYONE WHO KNOWS ANYTHING PLEASE COME FORWARD. THERE IS A $22,000 REWARD. CALL CRIMESTOPPERS AT 1-866-313-TIPS. YOU CAN REMAIN COMPLETELY ANONYMOUS. THANK YOU!
@Ray
The answer to your question is: he was a friend of Jimmy Van Bramer and he was gay. Apparently, that’s what passes for major accomplishments nowadays.
@Not True – Your statement is not true. Two laws were adopted. One deals with oversight, the so-called Inspector General for the Police Department. The second law makes it easier to sue the Police Department and individual police officers for “racial profiling”, expands the definition of “racial profiling” to including things like housing status, and rewards with money lawyers who sue the Police Department.
CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT Lou Rispoli HAS DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY???????????? PLEASE FACTS ONLY. NOT JUST A RESPECTED INDIVIDUAL, LIKED, ETC. WHAT HE DID FOR THE COMMUNITY!!!
If you see something, say something. Just make sure it doesn’t offend anybody. In that case, shut up.
The police can absolutely use the description given by a witness when attempting to solve a case. Otherwise, they wouldn’t ever be able to look for any criminals.
The new laws (the racial profiling law isn’t even new, just amended) have created oversight. While I don’t agree with the new provisions, a lot of the “facts” people are stating are greatly exaggerated.
Ruben for Mayor and ’86 Mets for Deputy Mayor!
@Henry, the two laws recently passed by the City Council are directed to inhibiting law enforcement activity by the Police Department. So if someone sees an individual assaulting another person and the assaultor has bright red hair, freckles, speaks with a brogue, has a green white and gold flag lapel pin, and leaves the scene yelling “No Surrender”, it is now against the law for the Police Department to act on a belief that the person is Irish. Heck, it is now against the law for the Police Department to act on a belief that the individual is Caucasian. The public should be informed about these laws and know how their local elected representative voted with regard to same.
The case has not been solved yet in spite of the publicity and the reward money. I am speculating, but is it possible that the killers are not from this community and that they belong to a group that will simply not talk to the police no matter the incentive?
If this is a mayor rally then I will have my Weiner sign out!
@JOR It seems that new racial profiling law is about police profiling not taking a witnesses testimony. I could be wrong but that’s what I thought.
JOR makes a good point. Under those circumstances, I certainly would hesitate to report anything lest I be accused of racial profiling. Van Bramer’s vote on this certainly makes solving this case that much harder. Nice work Jimmy.
I mean if you did witness the murder, how could you not notice a person’s race, ethnicity or other obvious identifying factors that are now off-limits due to political correctness run amok?
I am curious to know how a street can b named after a person whose case s still an unsolved crime. Shouldn’t we wait to see if his killers will b found? Also the police hav not released any information as to why he was in that area at that hour of the night. What was on his cell phone records? What was on his computer? I think the people of Sunnyside and Woodside have the right to know this information before we name a street after him. There really has been no answers to anyone questions about this. I just wish his killers could b found and brought to justice but let’s delay this street naming event for now.
Anyone who may respond to Heartbroken’s plea to call with “ANY INFORMATION – ANYTHING AT ALL” should be cautioned that information about a suspect that includes “actual or perceived race, national origin, color, creed, age, alienage or citizenship status, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or housing status” is defined as “racial profiling” under the law recently passed by the City Council with the support of Sunnyside’s City Council representative. If the Police Department uses any such information “as the determinative factor in initiating law enforcement action against an individual”, the Police Department is subject to a lawsuit that can result in an injunction and a declaration that the individual was the subject of “racial profiling”, which can then be used in a lawsuit for money against the Department and any individual police officers involved, and the complaining party’s attorney can be paid attorney fees and “expert” witness fees.
How about we name a street after the Change bum? He seems to be heavily involved in our community and very well known.
Does anyone else think this dedication will turn into a Quinn for mayor rally?
pays to be friends with JVB!
John P Just got PWNED!
86Mets, you have just knocked it out of the ballpark,well said.
@John P
Are you seriously going to compare Mr. Rispoli to a courageous Medal of Honor recipient killed in Vietnam, another veteran killed in WWI, another who served in WWI and survived, and a heroic fireman who gave his life to save others on 9-11?
You have got to be kidding me.
I don’t disagree that Mr. Rispoli was a nice guy and well liked and supported certain political issues but to put him on the same level as these men who valiantly served their country in distant and hostile lands and risked and gave their lives to keep this country free, or to save their fellow citizens from a burning and doomed skyscraper, is utterly absurd.
where’s my street name?
I predict another street naming after the Staunton boy. Just how things work in life.
Ah, 86Mets. What “they” do “in private”? Your handle makes it clear that the past was a far nicer place. Go back there before there was an internet or you had the ability to post things online.
I cannot even express how much I hope you see my girlfriend and I doing something in public, like kissing, holding hands, walking the dog, buying milk. I bet you also say things like “but some of my best friends are…”
You are a piece of the past. And don’t bother watching out for the future – it just blew by your hateful head.
@mace I would also like to know what he did for the community. I’m sure he was a wonderful man but I would like more info on him.
’86 Mets needs to take a sensitivity class. NOBODY here said that the Lou Rispoli’s friends have a monopoly on mourning. That statement truly makes you sound like a douche bag. I do not even know Lou Rispoli, but my heart breaks for his husband and friends. Please THINK before you type yout thoughtless words here!!! We are supposed to be a COMMUNITY here. I am born & raised here in Sunnyside, and that is what we were then: a community. Not any more I guess. You can ride out the wave of gentrification and newbies who have come to our quaint neighborhood, but I have been starting to feel like that sense of community is permanently gone. Please TRY (JUST TRY) to show respect where the Lou Rispoli situation is concerned…
So, you guys were equally outraged by the naming ceremonies honoring Joe Sabba, John Vincent Daniels Jr., Lawrence Virgilio, George F. Torsney, Lou Lodati, Lance Corporal Thomas P. Noonan Jr., and Lewis Mumford, right? No?
@86Mets You most certainly did know Ed Koch, through the media, and you are most certainly entitled to your opinion about him.
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As for not being able to criticize a gay person for being gay, it is in fact illegal to be discriminating against someone just because they are of a particular profile – whether they are African Americans, Asian, Jewish, Hispanic, mentally or physically handicapped, whatever!
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And this notion that we have a monopoly on mourning is so outrageous – not to mention hurtful. Honestly, I wouldn’t wish any of what we have been through on anyone – most especially the unfeeling comments that come flying at us through this forum. Reading them is like pouring salt on a deep wound. An exceptionally generous man was killed and neglected on YOUR streets – whether you want to believe it or not, we are ALL in this together.
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For those who would like to attend this ceremony, it begins at 12:00 noon next Saturday.
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MOST IMPORTANTLY – IF YOU KNOW OF ANY INFORMATION – ANYTHING AT ALL – PLEASE CALL THE CRIMESTOPPERS HOTLINE 24/7 1-866-313-TIPS (8477). WE WOULD BE EVER SO GRATEFUL. THANK YOU.
I keep reading about how Lou Rispoli was involved in community activities. Can someone please tell me what he did for the broader community in Woodside/Sunnyside? Just curious. It sounds like naming a street after him is a little much but I could be swayed.
I hope they catch the killers but at this point, I’m not optimistic. Unless one of them confesses, rats out the other or they left some DNA evidence behind, the trail is ice cold. Any chance to find them swiftly was blown by the cops at the outset.
Can we rename the Lodati Park Lou Rispoli Park. I don’t know who Lodati was but he certainly couldn’t possibly have done as much for the neighborhood as Rispoli.
Heartbroken, I didn’t know Ed Koch either but I objected to naming a bridge after him. I didn’t know the people that have also been murdered recently in the neighborhood either. That’s got nothing to do with it. It’s impossible to criticize a gay person nowadays or say something the gay community doesn’t agree with without the inevitable, childish name-calling: homophobe, hater etc… Rational, intelligent discussions are apparently not possible with certain people.
Believe it or not Heartbroken, you are not the only person who has lost a loved one in a tragic manner. I object to those who seem to think they have a monopoly on sorrow and only their grief matters.
@86Mets Did you know Lou? If you did, you would have loved him – yes, even you. He was that kind of a guy. And really, if you think about it, the system was playing favorites against the likes of Lou until only two years ago, when he was finally allowed to marry the love of his life. Thank God he lived to see that day. Let this man be honored as he couldn’t have been merely a few years ago. This is not too much to do in his honor.
People, settle down.
The street will be named after him. Making assumptions without knowing what was on the dead man’s autopsy or toxicology reports is just silly.
Discussion on how this community goes forward is a starting point. We need digital cameras around every residential area, especially areas with seedy activities. We are in 2013. The cameras that capture these crimes say otherwise.
Everyone has a right to walk and feel safe at night. Cameras should be there to to ensure that safety. We don’t need more laws, we need initiative.
Instead of mandatory laws, give owners incentive to install cameras near their properties.
People have said several times that Lou Rispoli was very involved in community activities and well-respected by many. That is the reason a street is being named after him. Haters, please read. And go do something more constructive.
@Fingerman
I don’t care what consenting adults do in private, that’s their business. I do have a problem with double standards and politicians playing favorites.
I say they name a street ‘Complain Way’ because that’s all some of you people do on here – complain – and it’s SO annoying. If ’86 Mets was an important somebody who had the ability or ‘pull’ to name a street for a person, I bet he would. Who cares if that was JVB’s motives? So they were friends. I do not even know this Rispoli guy, but it SOUNDS like he was a hell of a lot nicer guy and a more productive member of the community, than some of the people who post on here. Enough said…
JVB should try & pass a law that requires all residential apartment buildings and/or individual home owners to have a surveillance camera, so we could get a better look at the individuals who did this to Lou Rispoli. May he rest in peace!
@86Mets
Let’s not fool ourselves. You have an issue with Jimmy Van Bramer and gay people and are just dragging Lou Rispoli into it.
@Eric Blair
Rispoli’s killers have not been caught so we don’t know who they were or what their motivation was. So as far as we know, it wasn’t a hate crime. For all we know, this might have been a drug deal gone bad or some other unflattering circumstance. In which case, the decision to honor the victim with a street name may be a bit premature.
And if being the victim of a hate crime is criteria for such an honor then the guy who was killed by the 7 train should definitely get one since we know for sure that it was a hate crime.
Let’s not fool ourselves. Rispoli is being put on a posthumous pedestal because he was gay and the friend of a gay councilman.
Lou was hugely involved and active in the community. He inspired and motivated a great deal of people (myself included). That’s why a street is being named for him.
If you think these other people should have streets named after them call your elected officials and tell them that. There’s lots of streets.
Lou Rispoli is said to have been a community activist in Sunnyside/Woodside and was the victim of a hate crime. That’s why. Come on people, too much free time?
What about the poor guy who got pushed in front of the 7 train in hate crime? He was a minority too. No street for him?
May all murder victims be honored and remembered in the hearts of our community.
Tommy from the post diner served thousands of pancakes and coffee to the community, where’s HIS street???
There was a woman murdered in the neighborhood two weeks ago. She was well liked by many people too. When is there going to be a street named after her? Oh, wait, she wasn’t a friend of JVB. Nevermind.
Shouldn’t the street name be outside of the 108?