We’ll start the week off with the tragic story of the two Bronx teenagers – Crystal Reyes, 15, of University Heights, and David Lee Luccioni III, 17, who was about to start his senior year at Grace Dodge High School – who drowned yesterday in the Bronx River. (More from the Daily News, NY Post, NY1.)
According to city officials and news reports, Reyes was struggling after jumping into a fenced-off part of the river near the dam around 180th Street. Luccioni jumped in to save her. They both became entangled in tree branches below the surface. Both were taken to near-by St. Barnabas and pronounced dead on arrival at about 4 p.m. Despite the “No Swimming” signs, the spot is popular with young people looking to cool off. There were about 20 kids swimming in the area when Reyes began flailing and yelling for help and Luccioni went after her.
The Times has a more lighthearted summer river story about the local kids who jump off the cliffs in Spuyten Duyvil, much to the chagrin of the local MTA cops.
Speaking of the MTA, the budget-crunching agency is about to introduce a series of new cost-cutting measures, including jacking up prices on unlimited Metrocards and the creation of a “limited unlimited card” that would charge more for heavier users.
Two Riverdale synagogues that became targets in a failed bombing plot last year will receive federal grants to beef up their security.
Hundreds of city buildings, including 1694 Davidson Ave. in Morris Heights, are again deteriorating after being rescued decades ago.