LilMtnCbn
07-03-2004, 05:43 AM
http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/manhattan/nyc-joel0703,0,1753499.story
?coll=nyc-manheadlines-manhattan
Steinberg neighborhood quiets down
BY LUIS PEREZ
Staff Writer
July 3, 2004
A sense of normalcy settled around the Fortune Society headquarters yesterday,
as the media madness and neighborhood furor surrounding convicted child killer
Joel Steinberg quieted down.
Steinberg, 63, arrived at the Hamilton Heights halfway house Wednesday
afternoon after doing time at the Southport Correctional Facility upstate for
the brutal murder of his illegally adopted daughter in 1987. He served 16 years
of an 81/3-to-25-year sentence for manslaughter.
It was a sensational case that drew a national spotlight on prevention of child
and spousal abuse and adoption fraud.
Since his arrival, a daily throng of reporters, photographers and television
cameras has kept vigil outside the stone, castle-like facility, at West 140th
Street and Riverside Drive. In the evenings, small bands of protesters came to
beat on a drum, chanting "Child killer go home!" and handing out fliers saying
the same.
"We will come here every night until he goes away," vowed Luis Tejada,
president of the Mirabal Sisters Community Organization, which organized the
protests, as a crowd of 50 circled the facility Thursday night. Joining them
was the local community board chairman, who also spoke out against Steinberg
living on the street.
But Friday, a light evening rain blowing over the Hudson River was all that was
needed to discourage protesters, who had promised another 6 p.m. protest.
During the day, only a handful of reporters milled about, searching for a
glimpse of a man who has yet to relish a walk on the street.
Parolees at the institution declined to comment about Steinberg's drawn-out
secrecy.
JoAnne Page, director of the Fortune Society, described Steinberg's program as
an intensive rehabilitative program for motivated ex-convicts. She said
Steinberg was adjusting well to life at the facility, and would likely begin
the task of making up a resume next week.
He is receiving anger management and drug counseling at Fortune as part of his
parole condition.
Meanwhile, in a common area at the halfway house, Steinberg has full access to
newspapers and television, where Friday his face and name were on the front
page of tabloid newspapers for a third day.
"The soundbite on Joel's return is 'Monster Returns to the City,' " Page said.
"This was a terrifying way to re-enter society."
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
?coll=nyc-manheadlines-manhattan
Steinberg neighborhood quiets down
BY LUIS PEREZ
Staff Writer
July 3, 2004
A sense of normalcy settled around the Fortune Society headquarters yesterday,
as the media madness and neighborhood furor surrounding convicted child killer
Joel Steinberg quieted down.
Steinberg, 63, arrived at the Hamilton Heights halfway house Wednesday
afternoon after doing time at the Southport Correctional Facility upstate for
the brutal murder of his illegally adopted daughter in 1987. He served 16 years
of an 81/3-to-25-year sentence for manslaughter.
It was a sensational case that drew a national spotlight on prevention of child
and spousal abuse and adoption fraud.
Since his arrival, a daily throng of reporters, photographers and television
cameras has kept vigil outside the stone, castle-like facility, at West 140th
Street and Riverside Drive. In the evenings, small bands of protesters came to
beat on a drum, chanting "Child killer go home!" and handing out fliers saying
the same.
"We will come here every night until he goes away," vowed Luis Tejada,
president of the Mirabal Sisters Community Organization, which organized the
protests, as a crowd of 50 circled the facility Thursday night. Joining them
was the local community board chairman, who also spoke out against Steinberg
living on the street.
But Friday, a light evening rain blowing over the Hudson River was all that was
needed to discourage protesters, who had promised another 6 p.m. protest.
During the day, only a handful of reporters milled about, searching for a
glimpse of a man who has yet to relish a walk on the street.
Parolees at the institution declined to comment about Steinberg's drawn-out
secrecy.
JoAnne Page, director of the Fortune Society, described Steinberg's program as
an intensive rehabilitative program for motivated ex-convicts. She said
Steinberg was adjusting well to life at the facility, and would likely begin
the task of making up a resume next week.
He is receiving anger management and drug counseling at Fortune as part of his
parole condition.
Meanwhile, in a common area at the halfway house, Steinberg has full access to
newspapers and television, where Friday his face and name were on the front
page of tabloid newspapers for a third day.
"The soundbite on Joel's return is 'Monster Returns to the City,' " Page said.
"This was a terrifying way to re-enter society."
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
