In this week’s address, President Obama explains his administration’s steps to help the housing market, including giving responsible homeowners a chance to save thousands of dollars every year by refinancing their mortgages, but he says we need Congress’s help to do more.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
RIP: Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, NY Times Publisher
Statement from President Obama
"Michelle and I were saddened today to hear about
the passing of Arthur
Sulzberger. Over the course of more than 30 years, Arthur
helped transform the New York Times and secure its status as one of the most
successful and respected newspapers in the world. He was a firm believer in the
importance of a free and independent press - one that isn't afraid to seek the
truth, hold those in power accountable, and tell the stories that need to be
told. Arthur's legacy lives on in the newspaper he loved and the journalists he
inspired. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."
Statement from Governor Andrew Cuomo
"Today we mourn the loss of a true New Yorker and American, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, a respected businessman and publisher who built The New York Times into the globally renowned newspaper it is today. Mr. Sulzberger's life was one of service; as a young man he, along with so many others of his generation, answered the call of duty and joined the Armed Forces during World War II. Mr. Sulzberger changed the course of American history with his journalistic decisions, including publishing the Pentagon Papers, ultimately fulfilling the foremost task of the media to report the unfiltered truth to the American people. We will miss Mr. Sulzberger's integrity, unwavering commitment to the highest qualities of ethical journalism, as well as the role he played in the civic and social life of New York City and our nation. I send my condolences to his friends and family."
From The G-Man proudly salutes the amazing legacy and life of Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, one of America's journalism trailblazers.
Safety Measures Overhauled at NYRA Tracks
On September 28, Governor
Andrew Cuomo announced that his office has received the findings and
recommendations of the New York Task Force on Racehorse Health and Safety and
that the state will undertake an unprecedented series of reforms to promote
equine safety at New York racetracks.
The Task Force was appointed at the request of the Governor's office following a spate of deaths at Aqueduct Racetrack during its winter meeting.
The Task Force was directed to
review the circumstances involving the deaths, analyze the causes, and
recommend any necessary action to prevent equine breakdowns at NYRA operated
facilities.
The Task Force was also charged
with examining horse claiming rules, veterinary procedures and drug use in
order to promote equine safety.
"New York is committed to placing the health, safety and welfare of the equine athlete as the top priority of horseracing," Governor Cuomo said.
"As we bring
accountability and responsible business practices to horseracing, these
recommendations will be an integral part of a new and improved racing product.
I have requested the Racing and Wagering Board to promptly adopt the changes
identified by the Task Force to create a safety-conscious environment for
racehorses. I sincerely thank the members of the Task Force on Racehorse Health
and Safety for their important work."
The Governor's actions include recommending a complete overhaul of NYRA's veterinary practices, the creation of an Equine Medical Director position within the state's racing regulatory body, strict prohibitions regarding medications, and new rules for claiming races.
Since the Task Force found that
the inability of jockeys to communicate their concerns about the health of
horses established an unacceptably elevated level of risk, the State will
create an anonymous equine safety hotline to enable jockeys to report horse
health concerns without fear of retribution.
Task Force Chairman Scott E. Palmer, VMD , said, "The Task Force has spent countless hours analyzing the circumstances of each equine death at Aqueduct. We found multiple factors that created a 'perfect storm' of conditions that caused these tragic breakdowns. We have produced realistic recommendations that will make a lasting difference in racehorse health and safety. We are proud of this report and thank Governor Cuomo for creating this Task Force."
“The recommendations put forth
by this Task Force are strong and effective responses to the equine fatalities
at Aqueduct. The Board stands ready to incorporate the full report into our
policies and procedures,” noted Racing and Wagering Board Chairman John D.
Sabini.
The Task Force found that while there was no single root cause for the Aqueduct fatalities, a combination of factors likely led to the increased rate of horse deaths.
These factors included:
increased purses in claiming races that incentivized stakeholders to run
substandard horses; the use of corticosteroids that may have limited the
ability of veterinarians to identify pre-existing conditions that disposed
horses to catastrophic injuries; a lack of protocols and inconsistencies in
pre-race inspections and veterinary procedures; and mild weather on a track
designed for harsher winters.
During its comprehensive examination, the Task Force found that NYRA's organizational veterinary structure was inherently conflicted by reporting to an entity (the Racing Office) whose function is inconsistent with deliberate and careful equine risk management practice.
Other structural shortcomings
with NYRA's veterinary practice include: a lack of uniform protocols and
procedures among track veterinarians, a failure to standardize risk factors to
assess racehorses' fitness to run, and no uniformity in veterinary care
recordkeeping or proper use of existing veterinary practice management
software.
The State Racing and Wagering Board and NYRA will be directed to take these actions:
Establish an Office of
the Equine Medical Director to oversee horse safety
Create an independent
veterinary practice structure within NYRA which will put the health of the
horses first and which reporting directly to the chief executive officer of
NYRA
Establish an anonymous
reporting mechanism for jockeys to report health or safety violations without
fear of reprisal
Prohibit Clenbuterol
within 21 days of a race
Prohibit
Methylprednisolone (DepoMedrol®) within 15 days of the date of a race
Prohibiting all other
intra-articular corticosteroids within seven days of a race
Prohibiting all other
systemic corticosteroids within five days of a race
Requiring trainers to
maintain and records of corticosteroid administrations and notify the Stewards
in writing within 48 hours of all intra-articular corticosteroid administrations
Extending the claiming
rule that voids claims in the event a claimed horse dies on the race track to
make a claim voidable within 1 hour of the conclusion of a race if the horse is
vanned off the track
Amending the economic
proportionality claiming rule to allow a purse-to-claim ratio no greater than
1.6-to-1
Requiring horse
claimants be notified within 48 hours of any intra-articular administration of
corticosteroids to the claimed horse in the 30 days prior to the race
Expanding out-of-competition
drug testing to include corticosteroids and clenbuterol
Improving documentation
of findings of fatal injuries, including the development of standard protocols
for handling of horses sustaining fatal injuries
Requiring testing
laboratory accreditation
Formalizing necropsy
procedures
NYRA will also examine the possibility of installing of a synthetic surface on the inner track at Aqueduct.
The members of the Task Force on Racehorse Health and Safety are:
Chairman: Dr. Scott E. Palmer, the hospital
director and staff surgeon at the New Jersey Equine Clinic, has served as a
past president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP). He
currently serves as Chairman of the AAEP Racing Committee. Palmer has also been
twice named “Veterinarian of the Year” by the New Jersey Association of Equine
Practitioners.
Jerry Bailey, a retired Hall of Fame jockey, is
a seven-time Eclipse champion jockey who has won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness
and Belmont Stakes twice each, as well as five Breeders' Cup Classics. Bailey,
who currently works as a television analyst, served as President of the
Jockeys' Guild.
Alan Foreman, the Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of Thoroughbred Horsemen's Associations, Inc., also serves as Vice
Chairman of the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium and as counsel to
many horsemen's and racing industry organizations.
Dr. Mary Scollay, the equine medical director of
the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, previously led a pilot racehorse injury
reporting project that became the Jockey Club's Equine Injury Database.
The report is available here.
The report's executive summary is available here.
Image courtesy of http://www.newcashondemand.com.
Tenants PAC to Announce Endorsement of Addabbo
Organization Says Senator Has a "Solid Track Record of Protecting and Ensuring Affordable Housing"
On October 1, at 1:00 pm, in front of
several rent-controlled buildings at 60-40 Madison Street in
Ridgewood, Queens, Tenants PAC will announce their endorsement of
Senator Joseph Addabbo for his third term representing New York State’s 15th District.
Tenants PAC is a leading tenants-right group and
the only organization in New York State devoted to addressing tenant concerns through
the electoral process.
Mike McKee, a Tenants PAC board member, will
attend and speak at the event. Other Tenants PAC members and local pro-tenant
activists will also be in attendance.
McKee will discuss the ongoing need for
affordable housing and what he describes as “Senator Addabbo’s solid record of
protecting and ensuring affordable housing in the district.”
“Voters must realize the importance of having
politicians like Senator Addabbo in office, who work for the people and are not
in the pockets of real estate entities and pro-landlord organizations,” said
McKee.
Image courtesy of http://www.tenantspac.org/.
NYS Division of Human Rights to Hold Special Conference
Discussion Will Focus on Employment Rights for People with Disabilities
On October 2, in observance
of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the New York State Division
of Human Rights will sponsor a conference to explore one of the most pressing
issues affecting people with disabilities – their efforts to find employment.
Panelists will
discuss emerging trends and cases as well as the employment of persons with
mental and developmental impairments.
One panel, which
includes a person with disabilities, will take a look at success stories.
Potential employees
will be able to identify opportunities and employers will learn how to find
resources to improve hiring and retention.
The free conference,
which will be available via webcast, is being co-sponsored by the U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission and will be held at The Strong’s National Museum of Play at One Manhattan Square Drive, Rochester, New
York. The conference will take place from 9 am to 5 pm.
Call (518) 474-2705 for more information.
Canal Corporation Announces “Canal Ambassadors”
Camillus Volunteers First to Enroll
SYRACUSE – Volunteers from Erie Canal Park in
Camillus were designated New York State’s first “Canal Ambassadors,” the
New York State Canal Corporation announced today.
The Canal Ambassador Program will enlist
volunteers across New York State to help canal communities
welcome tourists, maintain parks and waterfronts, give tours of historic
facilities, and offer services at festivals and events.
Volunteers who sign up and qualify for the
program receive a certificate designating them as a Canal Ambassador and a
shirt to identify them as participants in the program.
Howard P. Milstein, Chairman of the Thruway
Authority and Canal Corporation, said, “As New Yorkers, we are proud of our
heritage, history, and tradition of hospitality. Nowhere is this pride more
evident than in the spirit of volunteerism found in Camillus. Our first
Ambassadors here set a standard to inspire even more volunteers statewide to
become involved in their canalside communities.”
Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton
said, “The innovative Canal Ambassador program will help New Yorkers become
more invested in and connected with the waterway which made New York the Empire
State. We are grateful for the support and hard work of these volunteers”
David W. Beebe, D.D.S., founder and director of
the Camillus Erie Canal Park, said, “I commend the Canal Corporation for
developing this new program that recognizes the efforts of these volunteers who
work tirelessly to keep the Erie Canal Park in tip-top shape.”
Established is 1972, Camillus Canal Park
includes a replica of an Erie Canal store, a fully restored Erie Canal aqueduct
over Nine Mile Creek, and other exhibits and attractions. Staffed by
volunteers, the park offers visitors a variety of informational and entertaining
opportunities ranging from more than 10 miles of scenic wooded paths and
walkways, to boat rides along the historic Erie Canal.
Click here to register as a Canal Ambassador.
For more information about the Camillus Erie
Canal Park, click here.
Photo courtesy of http://canalny.com.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Treasury Department Responds to President Obama's Ralls Corporation Decision
U.S. Treasury Building
"The Wind Farm Sites are All Within or in the Vicinity of Restricted Air Space...."
"The Wind Farm Sites are All Within or in the Vicinity of Restricted Air Space...."
WASHINGTON – As chair of the Committee
on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), the U.S. Department of the
Treasury today issued the following statement about the President’s decision
regarding Ralls Corporation:
The President issued an order prohibiting the
acquisition and ownership of four wind farm project companies by Ralls
Corporation, its owners, its subsidiaries, and its affiliates. The order
directs Ralls Corporation to divest its interest in the wind farm project
companies that it acquired earlier this year, and to take other actions related
to the divestment. Ralls Corporation is owned by Chinese nationals, and
is affiliated with a Chinese construction equipment company that manufactures
wind turbines. The wind farm sites are all within or in the vicinity of
restricted air space at Naval Weapons Systems Training Facility Boardman in
Oregon.
The President took this action pursuant to
section 721 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended by the Foreign
Investment and National Security Act of 2007 (“section 721”). Section 721
authorizes the President to suspend or prohibit certain acquisitions of U.S.
businesses by foreign persons where he finds that there is credible evidence
that the foreign interest exercising control might take action that threatens to
impair national security, and where provisions of law other than section 721
and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act do not provide adequate and
appropriate authority to protect national security in the matter under review.
The President’s action demonstrates the
Administration’s commitment to protecting national security while maintaining
the United States’ longstanding policy on open investment. The President
exercises his authority under section 721 with a focus on national security
concerns and is committed to ensuring the fair and equitable treatment of all
foreign investors. The Administration will continue to ensure that the
United States remains the most attractive place for businesses to locate,
invest, grow, and create jobs. The President’s decision is specific to this
transaction and is not a precedent with regard to any other foreign direct
investment from China or any other country.
The President’s decision took into consideration
the factors described in subsection 721(f), as appropriate, and the
recommendation by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States
(“CFIUS”) that he issue an order prohibiting this transaction. CFIUS is
an interagency committee whose purpose is to review transactions that could
result in the control of a U.S. business by a foreign person in order to
determine the effect of such transactions on the national security of the
United States. In assessing the transaction’s impact on national
security, CFIUS conducted both a 30-day, first-stage review, and an additional
45-day, second-stage investigation. CFIUS’s detailed analysis took into
account all relevant national security factors, including those elements
enumerated in section 721. CFIUS also received a thorough analysis of the
threat posed by this transaction from the Office of the Director of National
Intelligence, as required by section 721.
CFIUS is chaired by the Secretary of the
Treasury and includes as members the Secretaries of State, Defense, Commerce,
Energy, and Homeland Security, the Attorney General, the Director of the White
House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the U.S. Trade
Representative. The Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary
of Labor participate as non-voting, ex-officio members.
Service Members Sue Defense Secretary Over Alleged Military Rapes
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta
Victims Say the Military Did Not Take Their Accusations Seriously
Victims Say the Military Did Not Take Their Accusations Seriously
In an exclusive report by Jesse Ellison, "The Daily Beast" writer states the following:
"Nineteen former and current U.S. military service members sued Leon Panetta and former secretaries of defense Friday alleging civil rights violations—stemming from sexual assault accusations they say were not taken seriously by the military."
"Nineteen former and current U.S. military service members sued Leon Panetta and former secretaries of defense Friday alleging civil rights violations—stemming from sexual assault accusations they say were not taken seriously by the military."
Photo courtesy of http://www.fireandreamitchell.com.
Oval Office Chat Session: Obama and Netanyahu
President Reaffirms U.S. Commitment to Israel
President Obama and Prime Minister
Netanyahu spoke today as part of their regular consultations, and to follow up
on Secretary Clinton’s meeting with the Prime Minister.
The President and Prime Minister discussed a range of security issues, and the President reaffirmed his and our
country’s unshakeable commitment to Israel’s security.
The two leaders underscored that they are in full agreement on the shared goal of preventing
Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
The Prime Minister welcomed
President Obama’s commitment before the United Nations General Assembly to do
what we must to achieve that goal.
The two leaders took note of the close
cooperation and coordination between the Governments of the United States and
Israel regarding the threat posed by Iran – its nuclear program, proliferation,
and support for terrorism – and agreed to continue their regular
consultations on this issue going forward.
The Power of the Pen: New Bills Signed Into Law
Statement by the Press Secretary on H.J. Res. 117, S. 3245, S. 3552 and S. 3625
On Friday, September 28, 2012, the President
signed into law:
H.J. Res. 117, which provides fiscal year 2013
appropriations for continuing projects and activities of the Federal Government
through Wednesday, March 27, 2013;
S. 3245, which extends to September 30, 2015,
the expiration dates of key requirements of four immigration programs
administered by the Department of Homeland Security: the EB-5 Regional
Center Program; the E-Verify Program; the Special Immigrant Non-Minister
Religious Worker Program; and the Conrad State 30 J-1 Visa Waiver Program; and
S. 3552, the "Pesticide Registration
Improvement Extension Act of 2012," which reauthorizes and modifies fee
collection provisions and related authorities in the Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
S. 3625, which delays
requirement, with certain exceptions, that financial disclosure forms of
employees of the Executive and Legislative Branches be made available on official
websites until December 8, 2012; and specifies that, beginning January 1, 2013,
periodic transaction reports of Legislative and Executive Branch employees must
include transactions of their spouses or dependent children.
Malmö Jewish Community Center Firebombed
Simon Wiesenthal Center Calls for Permanent Police Presence at Malmö Jewish Institutions and Other Endangered Communities Across Europe
Paris, 28 September 2012
An explosion occurred last night, after midnight, at the Malmö Jewish Community Center. The exact circumstances are currently under investigation.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center expresses its solidarity with the 700-member Jewish community and its Rabbi, who has been incessantly targeted.
Rabbi Kesselman and his children have been physically and verbally assaulted some fifteen times in the last year. This Yom Kippur, his newly purchased car was vandalized with engravings including "Palestina".
Subsequent to a firebombing of the synagogue, assaults on a pro-Israel demonstration and a series of other anti-Semitic incidents, the Wiesenthal Center met in December 2011 in Malmö with the Mayor, law enforcement officials, the Jewish community and Muslim and Roma leaders.
The Centre's Associate Dean, Rabbi Abraham
Cooper and its Director for International Relations,
Dr. Shimon Samuels, also met with Swedish Justice
Minister, Beatrice Ask in Stockholm, (pictured) seeking a commitment to
providing physical security for Jewish institutions.
The Centre also advised
the Minister that - due to the continued provocations of Malmö Mayor, Ilmar
Reepalu, in constantly introducing the Middle East conflict into local discourse and thereby
exacerbating tensions among the 70,000 Muslim community - it was imposing a
travel advisory on Malmö.
Samuels, in March 2011, accompanied President Obama's
Special Envoy on Anti-Semitism, Hannah Rosenthal, to meetings with Muslim and
other minority leaders in the city.
At a Malmö University conference on hate
crime, Samuels also explained, "The Center's concern that Malmö had become a
microcosm of contemporary threat to Jews, and serves as a case model for
anti-Semitic hate-mongering beyond Sweden."
The Center felt vindicated in that physical
security of the synagogue is now partly provided by the central government in
Stockholm. "Yet the Mayor's
continued indifference, the ban on cameras due to privacy considerations and
the lack of a police presence has not prevented this new attack. The Wiesenthal Centre was
now again appealing to Stockholm to provide permanent police surveillance as in
other endangered communities across Europe."
The explosion was apparently heard several blocks away and cracked the bullet-proof main door of the Jewish Community Center. "Such damage required sufficient expertise to fabricate a device that, though primitive, sets a precedent for more sophisticated explosives.
"We are grateful that, this time, there were no casualties and understand that two suspects have been detained. We are monitoring the situation and, especially, the reaction of the Mayor. Whether it was Ahmadinejad's Yom Kippur hate-speech at the United Nations or local sentiment fed by Islamist or other racist websites, we await rigorous condemnation and expressions of sympathy from Muslim leaders and a prompt prosecution of the perpetrators. In the meantime, the Center's travel advisory remains in place," concluded Samuels.
Editor's note: In May, From The G-Man published a news story that shed light on the racial upheaval engulfing the Swedish city of Malmö. The article can be read here.
West Wing Week: 09/28/12
This week, the First Lady spoke at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Dinner, We the People turned one year old, and the President addressed the UN General Assembly and the Clinton Global Initiative.
'60 Minutes' Preview: The Longest War
September 27, 2012 6:51 PM
Eleven years after 9/11, Lara Logan talks to the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. John Allen and to Hamid Karzai, the country's president, in frank interviews about what is, and what is not, working in the war.
Polls: Romney Lagging in Key States
CBS News political director John Dickerson talks to Norah O'Donnell about recent polls, the impact of the upcoming presidential debates, and how early voting affects the candidates.
Elections for Sale
MOYERS & COMPANY
Posted: September 26, 2012
Bill Moyers and Trevor Potter discuss how American elections are bought and sold, who covers the cost, and how the rest of us pay the price.
Prime Minister Netanyahu United Nations General Assembly Address
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly. He called for global action against Iran's nuclear program and said the world had until the next summer to stop weapons development. He used a diagram of a cartoon-like bomb to show the progress Iran had made, saying it had already completed the first stage of uranium enrichment. He then he pulled out a red marker and drew a red line across what he said was a threshold Iran was approaching and which Israel could not tolerate.
Anti-Islam Filmmaker Arrested for Breaking Probation
Sources:CBSKGTVKTLART
Los Angeles TimesThe Smoking Gun
By Zach Toombs
Anchor: Zach Toombs
Video courtesy of Newsy.com
Today in History: September 28th
Highlights of this day in history: Ariel Sharon visits Jerusalem's Temple Mount; The American Revolution's last battle begins; William the Conqueror invades England; First round-the-world flight ends; Jazz great Miles Davis dies. (Sept. 28)
Netanyahu Warns UN of Iranian Threat
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, has warned the United Nations that Iran is nearly 90 per cent complete in its efforts towards developing a nuclear weapon. As a visual aid, Netanyahu used a cartoon illustration to draw what he called a "red line" on the Islamic Republic's atomic programme. Al Jazeera's James Bays reports from the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Spain Unveils 2013 Austerity Budget
Spain has announced its austerity budget for 2013, against a backdrop of a falling economy and 25 per cent unemployment rate. Madrid is expected to outline a further $50bn worth of savings, tax rises, and structural reforms. Al Jazeera's Simon McGregor-Wood reports from Madrid.
Vietnamese Scientists Seek Bird Flu Vaccine
Scientists in Vietnam are trying to develop a vaccine for poultry, to fight a new strain of bird flu. The disease is spreading quickly among ducks and chickens. So far there have been no human infections. Al Jazeera's Wayne Hay reports from Hanoi.
How Somalia is Addressing its Challenges
Kenyan and Somali troops have taken control of parts of the last al-Shabab stronghold in Somalia's port city of Kismayo. Earlier, the United Nations called for continued support of Mogadishu's new government. Al Jazeera's Kristen Saloomey sat down with Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, the Horn of Africa country's prime minister, to discuss the challenges facing Somalia.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Kabul - A City of Hope and Fear
With the U.S. set to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan in 2014, what does the future hold for the country's capital?
Camillus Park Volunteers To Be Named First 'Canal Ambassadors'
Responsibilities Will Include Welcoming Tourists and Conducting Tours
New York - Volunteers at the Erie Canal Park in Camillus will be designated as the first “Canal Ambassadors” at an event at 11:30 a.m. Friday, September 28.
Canal Ambassadors will be designated across the state by the New York
State Canal Corporation to help canal communities welcome tourists, maintain parks and waterfronts, and give tours of historic facilities, and volunteer at festivals and events.
Contact John Callaghan at (518) 265-9079 for more information.
Image courtesy of http://www.tug44.org/canal.corp.boats/.
Image courtesy of http://www.tug44.org/canal.corp.boats/.
Cuomo Touts First Year of Property Tax Cap as Successful
"It is Clear That the Property Tax Cap Has Been a Tremendous Success..."
A report has been released on the first year of
the state's property tax cap. The report found that in the cap's first
year, it succeeded in holding average property tax growth to 2 percent
– 40 percent less than the previous ten-year average.
"For years, out of control spending drove
property taxes higher and higher, forcing families and businesses out of our
state. New York had no future as the tax capital of the nation, and last year
people in all corners of the state came together to help us put in place the
property tax cap which empowers communities to take control of their own
spending and tax levies. One year later, it is clear that the property tax cap
has been a tremendous success, saving hard-earned money for New York families
while ensuring that local governments learn to do more with less."
The median property tax paid by a homeowner in
New York ($4,090) was twice the national median ($2,043), and
when property taxes were accounted as a percentage of home
value— thirteen of the fifteen highest-taxing counties in the country
were in New York.
Carefully constructed based on
lessons learned from other states, the cap empowers citizens to
scrutinize the taxes that they have to pay and take control of local spending
decisions and tax levies.
642 of 678 or 95 percent of school
districts stayed within the cap.
Through increased public participation in
the budget process, the cap has encouraged local governments to
explore all avenues of reform and efficiency before they increase the local
levy.
16,000 New Yorkers Use New Voter Registration Website
Nearly 6,000 First-Time Voters Used Secure MyDMV Service
More than 16,000 New Yorkers –
including almost 6,000 first-time voters – have used the Department of Motor
Vehicle’s (DMV) new online voter registration service, according to New York
State Governor Andrew Cuomo.
The initiative, announced August 16, streamlines DMV services by allowing New Yorkers -- for the first time ever -- to apply to register to vote, or update their address or party enrollment, through a secure online site.
To date, more than 16,000 New
Yorkers have used the online system to register to vote or to change their address
or party enrollment. Now, when processing any license transaction at DMV,
customers may complete a voter registration application using the payment
terminal devices that are used to swipe debit or credit cards.
This process, which started on
August 7, will expand to every DMV office in the state next week.
"There is no doubt that this new initiative is helping New Yorkers become active participants in their government,” said Governor Cuomo.
“With election season upon us,
it is more critical than ever that we eliminate any obstacles to voter
registration and facilitate the process so that as many people as possible have
a say in our democracy. New York State will continue to make government work
more effectively and efficiently, so that it can better serve the people in the
21st century.”
The website can be found at https://my.dmv.ny.gov/crm/ and can be used by any New Yorker with a driver’s license or non-driver ID.
The website can be found at https://my.dmv.ny.gov/crm/ and can be used by any New Yorker with a driver’s license or non-driver ID.
New York is ranked 47th in the nation in voter registration, with less than 64% of eligible residents registered to vote.
The new system, which will also include digitized voter registration at electronic VeriFone terminals at New York’s 129 DMV locations, replaced the vast majority of paper forms and is designed to help centralize the digital transmission of voter registration applications and minimize errors in the system.
The measure is expected to save
New York State more than $270,000 a year and more than $350,000 a year for the
county Boards of Election (BOE).
In 2013, the MyDMV service will electronically transmit all voter information to the county Boards of Elections, significantly reducing entry times for those BOEs.
The Governor’s office is currently working with other “motor voter” agencies to develop on-line registration options where possible, particularly for non-drivers.
Image courtesy of http://wordplay.hubpages.com.
'I Welcome the Historic Agreement That Was Reached Today...'
Statement by the President on the Deal Between Sudan and South Sudan
I welcome the historic agreement that was
reached today between the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan on
a number of critical issues. This agreement breaks new ground in support of the
international vision of two viable states at peace with each other, and
represents substantial progress in resolving the outstanding security and
economic issues between Sudan and South Sudan. The Sudanese and South Sudanese
people who have suffered greatly through decades of conflict deserve the
benefits of a lasting peace – a peace that can only be achieved through
continued dialogue and negotiation, sustained implementation of the agreements
reached to date, and steadfast work to resolve remaining issues.
I commend the resolute efforts of the African
Union High-Level Implementation Panel, led by President Thabo Mbeki, for its
leadership in shepherding this agreement. I also commend those international
partners who have contributed to this peace process, particularly the chair of
the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the African Union, and the
United Nations.
The leaders of Sudan and South Sudan have chosen
to take another important step on the path away from conflict toward a future
in which their citizens can live in dignity, security, and prosperity. The
United States is committed to working with both countries as they implement
these agreements and as they seek to resolve those issues that remain
outstanding. We are hopeful that today’s deal can help spur broader
progress on resolving the conflict in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile, securing
unfettered international humanitarian access in those areas, and bringing peace
to Darfur.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)