cindy25
05-23-2011, 08:44 PM
I was checking local updates for NY-26 and came across this. posted entire because stupid paper takes articles down after 10 days
http://www.buffalonews.com/city/city-hall/article431322.ece
A $5,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the convictions of two suspects involved in a robbery that caused the death of a beloved deli owner.
It has been 17 days since Ali Hababi was gunned down in his Union Super Market at Riley Street and Masten Avenue.
On the same day that the Arab-American Businessmen's Association in Buffalo posted the reward, a city lawmaker announced that the shooting will spur a new rule that will require food stores in some parts of Buffalo to install video cameras in order to obtain annual license renewals.
Hababi was a 48-year-old father of seven who spent most of his adult life running his family's deli. He was known for donating food to customers who encountered tough times and delivering food to people's homes if they couldn't drive.
The victim's nephew told The Buffalo News that he's surprised that "people are not talking" to police. Ali Alhobabi said he's convinced some people in the community have key information about the crime.
"His life was wasted — for what?" Alhobabi said, noting that his uncle worked hard to help support relatives who lived here and in Yemen.
"The way he went, it was just terrible," Alhobabi said.
The president of the Arab-American Businessmen's Association said he's hoping the $5,000 reward will help police nab the two suspects who were involved in the robbery-gone-bad.
"We will do whatever it takes to bring them to justice," said Fred Merukeb, who stood in front of the shuttered store, near a makeshift memorial that contained dozens of stuffed animals, candles and flowers.
Joining Merukeb at today's news conference was Ellicott Council Member Darius G. Pridgen, who announced a new policy.
Pridgen said he has talked with city lawyers and law enforcers about his decision to require all food stores in his district to have at least one interior surveillance camera and one exterior camera as a condition of having their annual licenses renewed. He said details are still being finalized, but store owners would be required to preserve video tapes for a certain period — possibly for up to 60 days.
The store where Hababi was gunned down had a camera, and police said the video provides a chilling depiction of the May 6 shooting.
While the cameras did not prevent the crime, Pridgen said the evidence could be helpful.
"Right now, we have some intelligence because of what we saw in that video, but not enough. We need people to come forward," Pridgen said.
Council members in each district play pivotal roles in shaping restrictions that are placed on food stores. Typically, the full Council abides by the wishes of the district representative.
Merukeb said he would like to see a citywide requirement that food stores install and maintain video cameras.
"It's all about safety for anyone that owns a business," he said. "This is a method of technology that can bring [criminals] to justice."
http://www.buffalonews.com/city/city-hall/article431322.ece
A $5,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the convictions of two suspects involved in a robbery that caused the death of a beloved deli owner.
It has been 17 days since Ali Hababi was gunned down in his Union Super Market at Riley Street and Masten Avenue.
On the same day that the Arab-American Businessmen's Association in Buffalo posted the reward, a city lawmaker announced that the shooting will spur a new rule that will require food stores in some parts of Buffalo to install video cameras in order to obtain annual license renewals.
Hababi was a 48-year-old father of seven who spent most of his adult life running his family's deli. He was known for donating food to customers who encountered tough times and delivering food to people's homes if they couldn't drive.
The victim's nephew told The Buffalo News that he's surprised that "people are not talking" to police. Ali Alhobabi said he's convinced some people in the community have key information about the crime.
"His life was wasted — for what?" Alhobabi said, noting that his uncle worked hard to help support relatives who lived here and in Yemen.
"The way he went, it was just terrible," Alhobabi said.
The president of the Arab-American Businessmen's Association said he's hoping the $5,000 reward will help police nab the two suspects who were involved in the robbery-gone-bad.
"We will do whatever it takes to bring them to justice," said Fred Merukeb, who stood in front of the shuttered store, near a makeshift memorial that contained dozens of stuffed animals, candles and flowers.
Joining Merukeb at today's news conference was Ellicott Council Member Darius G. Pridgen, who announced a new policy.
Pridgen said he has talked with city lawyers and law enforcers about his decision to require all food stores in his district to have at least one interior surveillance camera and one exterior camera as a condition of having their annual licenses renewed. He said details are still being finalized, but store owners would be required to preserve video tapes for a certain period — possibly for up to 60 days.
The store where Hababi was gunned down had a camera, and police said the video provides a chilling depiction of the May 6 shooting.
While the cameras did not prevent the crime, Pridgen said the evidence could be helpful.
"Right now, we have some intelligence because of what we saw in that video, but not enough. We need people to come forward," Pridgen said.
Council members in each district play pivotal roles in shaping restrictions that are placed on food stores. Typically, the full Council abides by the wishes of the district representative.
Merukeb said he would like to see a citywide requirement that food stores install and maintain video cameras.
"It's all about safety for anyone that owns a business," he said. "This is a method of technology that can bring [criminals] to justice."