This video was published on YouTube on October 11, 2017.
Source: Newsy
Saturday, November 25, 2017
Community Mourns Slain Deputy in Michigan
A Thanksgiving night vigil drew nearly 150 people to honor an Michigan
sheriff's deputy killed when he was struck by a vehicle that was being
pursued by police. WXYZ's Simon Shaykhet reports.
Source: CBS News
Friday, November 24, 2017
Oval Office Chat: Abdel Fattah Al Sisi and Recep Tayyip Erdogan
President Trump spoke today with President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi of Egypt to offer condolences to the people of Egypt after the heinous attack on worshippers in Egypt’s North Sinai province. The President condemned the attack and reiterated that the United States will continue to stand with Egypt in the face of terrorism. The international community cannot tolerate barbaric terrorist groups and must strengthen its efforts to defeat terrorism and extremism in all its forms.
President Trump also spoke today with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey. President Trump reaffirmed the strategic partnership between the United States and Turkey, particularly in combating terrorism in all its forms and fostering regional stability.
On Syria, the two leaders discussed the importance of implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254 and supporting the United Nations-led Geneva Process to peacefully resolve the civil war in that country. President Trump and President Erdogan underscored the need to end the humanitarian crisis, allow displaced Syrians to return home, and ensure the stability of a unified Syria free of malign intervention and terrorist safe havens.
Consistent with our previous policy, President Trump also informed President Erdogan of pending adjustments to the military support provided to our partners on the ground in Syria, now that the battle of Raqqa is complete and we are progressing into a stabilization phase to ensure that ISIS cannot return. The leaders also discussed the purchase of military equipment from the United States.
Source: The White House, Office of the Press Secretary
President Trump also spoke today with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey. President Trump reaffirmed the strategic partnership between the United States and Turkey, particularly in combating terrorism in all its forms and fostering regional stability.
On Syria, the two leaders discussed the importance of implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254 and supporting the United Nations-led Geneva Process to peacefully resolve the civil war in that country. President Trump and President Erdogan underscored the need to end the humanitarian crisis, allow displaced Syrians to return home, and ensure the stability of a unified Syria free of malign intervention and terrorist safe havens.
Consistent with our previous policy, President Trump also informed President Erdogan of pending adjustments to the military support provided to our partners on the ground in Syria, now that the battle of Raqqa is complete and we are progressing into a stabilization phase to ensure that ISIS cannot return. The leaders also discussed the purchase of military equipment from the United States.
Source: The White House, Office of the Press Secretary
President Trump Thanks Members of the Military via Video Teleconference
This video was published on YouTube on November 23.
Source: The White House
The First Lady Receives the 2017 White House Christmas Tree
This video was published on YouTube on November 20.
Source: The White House
Michelle Obama at Pennsylvania Conference for Women
Former first lady Michelle Obama talked about life in and after the White House and about women’s empowerment at the annual Pennsylvania Conference for Women. Shonda Rhimes, the creator and executive producer of the television shows “Scandal” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” moderated the conversation.
Click here for video.
Source: C-SPAN
John Kerry Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
Massachusetts Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey were two of the speakers honoring Former Secretary of State John Kerry
as he received the first Lifetime Achievement Award from the Edward M.
Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate. The Boston ceremony
included a message from President Obama, a video tribute from former Vice President Joe Biden, and a speech about leadership and the state of the world by John Kerry.
Click here for video.
Source: C-SPAN
War is Hell: Veterans Describe Killing During Wartime
Note: Some segments contain strong language.
Source: Cut
Violence Against Transgender People Has Gotten Worse
Click on the graph to increase its size.
This article was published on November 20.
2017 has been a particularly deadly year for trans individuals, according to two new reports.
Fatal
violence against transgender individuals has increased in recent years,
reaching a record high in 2017, according to two new reports.
At least 25 transgender people have been killed in violent crimes in the United States this year, making it the deadliest year for the trans community in recent years, according to a new report released by LGBTQ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign.
The report, released ahead of Monday’s Transgender Day of Remembrance, found that 84 percent of trans victims of fatal violence in 2017 were people of color; 80 percent were trans women, and more than 75 percent were under the age of 35.
Click here for the full article.
Source: The Huffington Post
Trailblazers in Black History: Shirley Ann Jackson, Ph.D.
The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson is the 18th president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the oldest technological research university in the United States, where she has led an extraordinary transformation since 1999.
Described by Time Magazine as “perhaps the ultimate role model for women in science,” Dr. Jackson has held senior leadership positions in academia, government, industry, and research.
A theoretical physicist, Dr. Jackson holds an S.B. in Physics, and a Ph.D. in Theoretical Elementary Particle Physics, both from MIT.
In September 2014, United States President Barack Obama appointed Dr. Jackson as Co-Chair of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board, where she served until January 2017.
Dr. Jackson also served on the U.S. Secretary of State International Security Advisory Board from 2011-2017, and the U.S. Secretary of Energy Advisory Board from 2013-2017.
From 2009 to 2014, Dr. Jackson served on the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), and, as part of PCAST, was Co-Chair of the President’s Innovation and Technology Advisory Committee (PITAC).
Additional information is available here.
Source: Rensselaer and NationalMedals
Rev. Al Sharpton to Visit Meek Mill
During the National Action Network's (NAN) weekly rally on November 25, Rev. Sharpton will discuss his scheduled visit to Meek Mill on November 27 as a continuation of NAN’s criminal justice reform efforts.
In the
1990’s, Rev. Sharpton
and others helped Tupac Shakur get out of solitary confinement at the
request of his mother, and NAN has been monitoring other civil rights cases across the
country.
The rally will take place at 10 a.m. at 106 West 145th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard in Harlem.
The event will be broadcast on WLIB 1190 AM, the NAN website, and the IMPACT Television Network.
Source: Mercury
Denzel Washington Film Spotlights Why 'Activism is Heroism'
by Mashaun D. Simon
In
the midst of a contentious political climate and a country divided by
racial tensions, writer/director Dan Gilroy has one hope – that viewers
of his latest movie "Roman J. Israel, Esq." will understand the valor of
activism.
“What I am trying to do is pay
homage to those who commit themselves, those who try to make the world a
better place,” Gilroy told NBC News during a phone coversation. “There
is a price that comes with being an activist. Activism is heroism,
particularly given the fact many activists fight and very few people are
made aware of their contributions.”
In
theatres nationwide Wednesday, the movie, starring Denzel Washington,
centers on a civil rights lawyer who thrives off of being in the shadows
and poking holes in the injustices of the legal system.
“Roman
is a guy who is utterly invisible but a hero,” Gilroy said. “Anyone
could walk past him on the street and not give him a second look. He is
not anyone that you would take interest in – he gets beat up, he gets
mocked. But he is a man who carries justice and fairness in his mind and
in his heart.”
Click here for the full article.
Source: NBC News
Baltimore Detective Sean Suiter Killed Day Before Testimony in Police Corruption Case
When Suiter was killed with his own weapon, he was set to testify before
a federal grand jury the next day against eight elite officers already
indicted in a police corruption investigation.
Should Washington Begin Regulating Facebook? Some Lawmakers Say Yes.
WASHINGTON — For weeks, Facebook has been
under intense scrutiny in Washington after revelations about Russian
attempts to use the platform to influence the 2016 elections. Now, some
lawmakers are talking about turning that scrutiny into action.
There are new calls on Capitol Hill for
stronger federal regulation of Facebook, possibly requiring greater
transparency and disclosures for digital political ads. But lawmakers
have yet to take up more sweeping reforms that some internet policy
experts and advocates believe are necessary to protect users of the
social-media platform, given Facebook’s outsize influence and vast
stores of personal data.
In early September, Facebook said it had
traced $100,000 in politically motivated ads that ran during the 2016
presidential campaign to a Russian troll farm, reaching about 10 million people. Testifying before Congress a few weeks later, Facebook officials revealed
that the total audience for Russian-backed content was many times
larger, reaching an estimated 126 million Americans — a third of the
U.S. population — during the 2016 campaign.
Click here for the full article.
Source: NBC News
Did Tillerson Violate Law Regarding Child Soldiers?
Source: CBS News
Attorney General Schneiderman: NY Needs a New Law to Prevent Hacks and Curb Identity Theft
The following was statement was issued today by NYS Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.
Nobody should be forced to worry about the security of their personal information when shopping on Black Friday or Cyber Monday. But the constant barrage of recent hacks and data breaches makes the threat of identity theft all too real.
Just
this week, Uber became the latest company to report a breach -- one
that my office is investigating. We've seen breaches at Target. T.J.
Maxx. Yahoo. Marshalls. eBay. Home Depot. Anthem. And the biggest known
breach of Social Security numbers happened just a few months ago at
Equifax, exposing the personal information of more than 140 million
Americans, including more than 8 million New Yorkers.
These
breaches were outrageous -- and preventable. But there’s good news: the
NY State legislature can pass my legislation -- the SHIELD Act -- to
prevent hacks like these from ever happening again.
New
York's data security laws are toothless and outdated. While cybercrime
has evolved, our laws have stayed the same. If we had stronger standards
in place before the Equifax hack to fix these loopholes, that breach
may have been avoided.
We can't afford to wait for Congress to act. It’s up to us here in New York.
That’s
why I'm asking advocates, businesses, and New Yorkers like you to join
me in calling on New York’s legislators to pass the SHIELD (Stop Hacks
and Improve Electronic Data Security) Act to make our state a national
leader in data security.
Under this bill, companies would be required to: maintain reasonable safeguards for our data: the more sophisticated the company, the more robust the safeguards; and report breaches that expose our
usernames and passwords, biometric data, or private health data -- not
just those breaches that expose social security numbers or other
financial data.
Data
breaches are more frequent than ever. They're jeopardizing our privacy
and our financial information. Stopping them is in everyone’s interest.
Passing the SHIELD Act will enable my office to hold companies
accountable, and make sure New York law finally applies common sense
standards to businesses of all different sizes.
In solidarity,
Rumors Intensify Over NYPD Chief of Department Replacement
By Graham Rayman and Stephen Rex Brown
Monahan would replace Chief of Department Carlos Gomez, who will retire on Dec. 31.
If Monahan is promoted, there would be no Hispanics in the NYPD’s uppermost uniformed ranks, which are often referred to as the department’s “super chiefs.”
Click here for the full article.
Source: The New York Daily News (via The Empire Report)
Egypt North Sinai Attack: 'It Started with a Bomb, and Attackers Shot People Fleeing the Mosque'
Source: FRANCE 24 English
Emmerson Mnangagwa Swearing-In as President
Emmerson Mnangagwa's First Speech as Zimbabwe's President
Source: FRANCE 24 English
Thursday, November 23, 2017
Native Americans on: THANKSGIVING
This video was published on YouTube on November 15, 2016.
Source: johnnykimberlyg
Why These Native Americans Observe A National Day of Mourning Each Thanksgiving
This video was published on YouTube on November 22.
Source: HuffPost
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Thanksgiving Luncheon and Coat Giveaway at Evangelical Crusade Christian Church
Source: Attorney Sanford A. Rubenstein
Here Are the White House Visitor Records the Trump Administration Didn’t Want You to See
by Derek Kravitz, Leora Smith, Al Shaw and Sisi Wei
The Trump White House tried to block public access to visitor logs of
five federal offices working directly for the president even though they
were subject to public disclosure through the Freedom of Information
Act. Property of the People,
a Washington-based transparency group, successfully sued the
administration to release the data and provided the documents to
ProPublica.
You can review the listing here.
Source: ProPublica
Extreme Digital Vetting of Visitors to the U.S. Moves Forward Under a New Name
ICE officials have invited tech companies, including Microsoft, to develop algorithms that will track visa holders’ social media activity.
The Department of Immigration & Customs Enforcement is taking new
steps in its plans for monitoring the social media accounts of
applicants and holders of U.S. visas. At a tech industry conference last
Thursday in Arlington, Virginia, ICE officials explained to software
providers what they are seeking: algorithms that would assess potential
threats posed by visa holders in the United States and conduct ongoing
social media surveillance of those deemed high risk.
The comments provide the first clear blueprint for ICE’s proposed
augmentation of its visa-vetting program. The initial announcement of
the plans this summer, viewed as part of President Donald Trump’s calls
for the “extreme vetting” of visitors from Muslim countries, stoked a
public outcry from immigrants and civil liberties advocates. They argued
that such a plan would discriminate against Muslim visitors and
potentially place a huge number of individuals under watch.
ICE officials subsequently changed the program’s name to “Visa
Lifecycle Vetting.” But, according to the ICE presentation, the goal of
the initiative — enhanced monitoring of visa holders using social media —
remains the same.
Speaking to a room of information-technology contractors, hosted by the Government Technology & Services Coalition,
Louis Rodi, deputy assistant director of ICE Homeland Security
Investigations’ National Security Program, said the agency needs a tool
equipped with “risk-based matrices” to predict dangers posed by visa
holders, with the social media of those considered a threat under
continuous surveillance throughout their stay in the U.S.
“We have millions and millions and millions of people coming every
year, and subsequently departing, so we have to be smart about it,” said
Rodi to a room of representatives from companies like Microsoft,
Accenture, Deloitte and Motorola Solutions. “And I’m sure there are
tools out there that can help.”
Click here for the full article.
Source: ProPublica
Facebook (Still) Letting Housing Advertisers Exclude Users by Race
Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg
After ProPublica revealed last year that Facebook advertisers could target housing ads to whites only, the company announced it had built a system to spot and reject discriminatory ads. We retested and found major omissions.
by Julia Angwin, Ariana Tobin and Madeleine Varner
by Julia Angwin, Ariana Tobin and Madeleine Varner
In February, Facebook said it would step up enforcement of its prohibition against discrimination in advertising for housing, employment or credit.
But our tests showed a significant lapse in the company’s monitoring of the rental market.
Last week, ProPublica bought dozens of rental housing ads on
Facebook, but asked that they not be shown to certain categories of
users, such as African Americans, mothers of high school kids, people interested in wheelchair ramps, Jews, expats from Argentina and Spanish speakers.
All of these groups are protected under the federal Fair Housing Act,
which makes it illegal to publish any advertisement “with respect to
the sale or rental of a dwelling that indicates any preference,
limitation, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex,
handicap, familial status, or national origin.” Violators can face tens
of thousands of dollars in fines.
Every single ad was approved within minutes.
The only ad that took longer than three minutes to be approved by
Facebook sought to exclude potential renters “interested in Islam, Sunni
Islam and Shia Islam.” It was approved after 22 minutes.
Click here for the full article.
Source: ProPublica
Trailblazers in Black History: Leslie Ann Peterson Esdaile Banks
This video was published on YouTube on October 20, 2011.
Source: 2020VisualMedia
The 'I Am Woman' Series: Penny Marshall
This video was published on YouTube on January 11, 2016.
Source: FoundationINTERVIEWS
Caller Who Threatened Rep. Maxine Waters Faces Up To 10 Years In Prison If Convicted
Source: Roland S. Martin
Republican Women in Alabama Begin to Turn on Roy Moore
The GOP Senate candidate was always divisive. Now he’s grown toxic.
By Patricia Murphy
ANNISTON, Alabama—B.L. Shirley is a Republican woman from a Republican county who always—always—votes
Republican. And yet, on a windy, grey morning last weekend, the
Talladega, Alabama, retiree found herself in, of all places, a
Democrat’s campaign office, wondering just what she could do to defeat
the GOP candidate running for a seat in the U.S. Senate from her state.
“Roy
Moore,” she said, when asked why she would go canvassing for Democrat
Doug Jones before the special election on Dec. 12. “I think Roy Moore is
an impostor. I am a Christian and I don’t want to be counted in his
camp. He’s a divisive person.”
If Jones is to pull off a victory,
it will be because women like Shirley knocked on doors, called
neighbors, and worked to convince otherwise skeptical voters that his
opponent is fundamentally unfit for the office he’s seeking. A few weeks
ago, that seemed like a tall order. As the election nears, it no longer
appears quite so improbable.
Allegations that Moore routinely
pursued teenage girls and in some cases assaulted them when he was a
single man in his thirties have caused Republican voters in Alabama to
reassess their options. Some have decided to rally around the nominee.
But others have recoiled, leaving Moore in real risk of losing his
attempt to take over the seat vacated by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
Click here for the full article.
Source: The Daily Beast
Haitian Family 'Terrified' as Trump Administration Moves to End Protected Status
by Daniel Arkin
Just before bedtime on Monday night, Reginald
Lysias sat his 6-year-old daughter down and told her something he knew
would break her heart.
"I told her we have to
go to Haiti," Lysias recalled. "She asked me, 'Why?' I told her that
President Donald Trump doesn't want us to stay in the U.S."
The girl cried all night.
Lysias,
a 40-year-old pastor at a Baptist church in Northern California, is one
of as many as 60,000 Haitians living and working in the U.S. on a
temporary residency program created after a catastrophic earthquake
rocked the Caribbean nation in 2010. The Trump administration has
announced that it plans to end "temporary protected status," or TPS, for those Haitians on July 22, 2019.
Click here for the full article.
More Remains of Sgt. La David Johnson, Killed in Niger Ambush, Recovered
Four weeks after his funeral, more remains of
slain U.S. Army Sgt. La David Johnson have been identified, the Pentagon
confirmed Tuesday.
The remains were retrieved from the spot near
the village of Tongo Tongo, Niger, where Johnson and three other
American soldiers were ambushed and killed on Oct. 4 by ISIS-linked
militants.
They were found during a Nov. 12 inspection of the site by a joint
task force force of FBI and military investigators and later identified
via DNA testing, Defense Department spokeswoman Dana White said in a
statement.
“We can confirm that the Armed Forces Medical
Examiner has positively identified these remains as those of Sgt.
Johnson,” she said.
Click here for the full article.
Source: NBC News
New York Cares: Holiday Toy, Coat and School Supply Drive Launched
A statewide holiday
drive has been launched to benefit families in need across New York.
Donations of new unwrapped toys, coats and school supplies are being
sought to assist community-based organizations during the holiday giving
season.
"New Yorkers are tough, but they are also kind and willing to step up to help those in need," Governor Cuomo said. "This holiday season I encourage all New Yorkers to continue this great tradition and share some of the joy of this season with the less fortunate among us."
The Office of General Services has set up drop-off locations across the state for businesses and individuals to bring the new unwrapped toys, coats and school supplies, which will be distributed to families in underserved communities throughout New York. The drop-off locations will be collecting donations from Monday, November 27 through Friday, December 15.
The drop-off locations are as follows:
Alfred E. Smith Building, 80 South Swan St., Albany
New York State Capitol, Washington Avenue, Albany
Empire State Plaza Main Concourse, Empire State Plaza, Albany
Corning Tower, Empire State Plaza, Albany
Agency Buildings 1,2,3,4 - Empire State Plaza, Albany
Legislative Office Building Empire State Plaza, Albany
Robert Abrams Building for Law and Justice Empire State Plaza, Albany
Swan Street Building, Core 2 and Core 3, Empire State Plaza, Albany
Harriman Campus Buildings 5, 6, 7, 7A, 8, 12 Harriman Campus, 1220 Washington Ave., Albany
Ten Eyck Building, 40 North Pearl St., Albany
50 Wolf Road, Albany
625 Broadway, Albany
Hampton Plaza, 38-40 State St., Albany
44 Holland Ave., Albany
328 State St., Schenectady
Senator John J. Hughes State Office Building, 333 E. Washington St., Syracuse
Dulles State Office Building, 317 Washington St., Watertown
Utica State Office Building, 207 Genesee St., Utica
Eleanor Roosevelt State Office Building, 4 Burnett Blvd., Poughkeepsie
Henderson-Smith State Office Building, 107 Broadway, Hornell
Binghamton State Office Building, 44 Hawley St., Binghamton
NYS State Police, 1155 Scottsville Rd. Rochester
Homer Folks Facility, 28 Hill Street Oneonta
Senator Walter J. Mahoney State Office Building, 65 Court St., Buffalo
Perry B. Duryea State Office Building, 250 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Office Building, 163 West 125th St., New York City
Shirley A. Chisholm State Office Building, 55 Hanson Place, Brooklyn
Source: Press Office, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
"New Yorkers are tough, but they are also kind and willing to step up to help those in need," Governor Cuomo said. "This holiday season I encourage all New Yorkers to continue this great tradition and share some of the joy of this season with the less fortunate among us."
The Office of General Services has set up drop-off locations across the state for businesses and individuals to bring the new unwrapped toys, coats and school supplies, which will be distributed to families in underserved communities throughout New York. The drop-off locations will be collecting donations from Monday, November 27 through Friday, December 15.
The drop-off locations are as follows:
Alfred E. Smith Building, 80 South Swan St., Albany
New York State Capitol, Washington Avenue, Albany
Empire State Plaza Main Concourse, Empire State Plaza, Albany
Corning Tower, Empire State Plaza, Albany
Agency Buildings 1,2,3,4 - Empire State Plaza, Albany
Legislative Office Building Empire State Plaza, Albany
Robert Abrams Building for Law and Justice Empire State Plaza, Albany
Swan Street Building, Core 2 and Core 3, Empire State Plaza, Albany
Harriman Campus Buildings 5, 6, 7, 7A, 8, 12 Harriman Campus, 1220 Washington Ave., Albany
Ten Eyck Building, 40 North Pearl St., Albany
50 Wolf Road, Albany
625 Broadway, Albany
Hampton Plaza, 38-40 State St., Albany
44 Holland Ave., Albany
328 State St., Schenectady
Senator John J. Hughes State Office Building, 333 E. Washington St., Syracuse
Dulles State Office Building, 317 Washington St., Watertown
Utica State Office Building, 207 Genesee St., Utica
Eleanor Roosevelt State Office Building, 4 Burnett Blvd., Poughkeepsie
Henderson-Smith State Office Building, 107 Broadway, Hornell
Binghamton State Office Building, 44 Hawley St., Binghamton
NYS State Police, 1155 Scottsville Rd. Rochester
Homer Folks Facility, 28 Hill Street Oneonta
Senator Walter J. Mahoney State Office Building, 65 Court St., Buffalo
Perry B. Duryea State Office Building, 250 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Office Building, 163 West 125th St., New York City
Shirley A. Chisholm State Office Building, 55 Hanson Place, Brooklyn
Source: Press Office, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
New Yorkers Encouraged to Exercise Caution While Shopping This Holiday Season
Governor Andrew Cuomo
today urged New Yorkers to take steps to protect their personal and
financial information during the upcoming holiday shopping season. While
popular shopping days like Black Friday and Cyber Monday are known for
their bargains, criminals often use these days to scam unwary consumers.
New Yorkers should stay vigilant when shopping this year and make sure
they are aware of the steps they need to take to avoid becoming a victim
of these crimes.
"With more and more New Yorkers turning to online deals this holiday season, cyber criminals are looking for ways to take advantage of unsuspecting shoppers using increasingly sophisticated tactics," Governor Cuomo said. "I encourage all New Yorkers to exercise diligence to protect themselves when shopping throughout the holidays and beyond."
In 2016, there were 20,205 identity theft complaints reported by consumers in New York State. According to the FBI's 2016 Internet Crime Report, New Yorkers claimed a total loss of over $106 million resulting from cyber-related crimes. To maximize the chances of securing great online deals, while minimizing online shopping risks, consumers should engage in safe online behavior. This holiday season, and all year long, keep the following tips in mind when purchasing online.
Black Friday shopping tips:
Take Note of the Purchase and Use Rules Related to Gift Cards -- Consumers should carefully review the terms and conditions of use prior to purchasing a gift certificate or card, including the imposition of various fees, especially 'dormancy fees' for non-use. Consumers should also check the card's expiration date and determine if there are any restrictions on the use of the gift card. They should be aware of the replacement policy in case it is lost or stolen.
Be Careful Purchasing Big Ticket Items -- When purchasing big ticket items, consumers should look for warranty coverage on the item; check out stock availability; and, evaluate financing options carefully. As consumers comb retail advertisements, they should take note of the fine print and the quantity of the product available at the advertised price, as well as whether rain checks are available.
Understand Layaway Plans -- Layaway plans vary by store. Consumers should make sure they read all of the terms in the contract and have their questions answered regarding the payment schedules, refund policies and penalties for missing a payment before moving forward with a layaway. A copy of the contract and a record of payments should be retained by the purchaser.
Read the Retailers Refund and Return Policy -- Consumers should review a store's refund policy before considering a purchase. If the store does not post a return policy, the law requires the store to accept a receipted return within 30 days of purchase. It is important to inquire whether the store imposes a re-stocking fee for returned merchandise and determine prior to purchase if the item can be returned for a refund or store credit only.
Avoid Credit Card Debt -- If not careful, holiday purchases may cost consumers more than what is on their receipt. Consumers are urged to avoid credit card debt by tracking their spending, being cognizant of credit card limits, stick to a realistic budget and verify receipts and reconcile them against their statement. In addition, consumers should refrain from using their credit card for cash advances. The fees and interest on such transactions are higher than for credit card purchases. Always review your monthly credit card statements carefully to ensure that you are being billed for the correct dollar amount.
Cyber Monday Online Shopping Tips:
Do your Research. Shop with merchants and websites you know and trust. Check out the seller's reputation at the Better Business Bureau to see if there are any reviews that mention potential scams or problems. Also, review the privacy policy of the merchant website and understand what personal information is being requested and how it will be used, and if it will be shared or sold to others.
Protect your Computer. Keep your operating system and application software updated on all computers and mobile devices. Be sure to check that your anti-virus/anti-spyware software is running and receiving automatic updates. Confirm that your firewall is enabled.
Be Wary of Ads. Avoid clicking on banner ads or pop-ups since they may link to a malicious website. If you see an advertisement from a reputable brand for a deal or promotion that you are interested in, go to the company's website directly for more information.
Shop Safely. Before making an online purchase, make sure the website uses secure technology. Verify the web address begins with "HTTPS". The "s" stands for "secure" and indicates that communication with the webpage is encrypted. Do not use public computers or public Wi-Fi for your online shopping. Public computers may be compromised with malicious software that steals your credit card information when placing an online order. Traffic on public wireless networks may also be intercepted by criminals to steal credit card numbers and other personal information.
Keep Documentation of your Order. Save records of your online transactions, including the product description and price, the online receipt, and the emails you send and receive from the merchant. Review your credit card statements to confirm that all charges are legitimate. If you have unauthorized charges on your account, contact your credit card company immediately.
New York State Chief Information Officer Robert H. Samson said, "The convenience and ease of online shopping continues to draw in more consumers each holiday season. As online shopping grows, so too does the risk of theft, fraud and abuse by cyber criminals. There are many steps New Yorkers can take to protect themselves this holiday season, and I encourage everyone to be cautious when shopping online to safeguard their financial information."
New York Secretary of State Rossana Rosado said, "We all enjoy the thrill of nabbing a good online bargain, and Cyber Monday is an ideal time to find such deals. Unfortunately, the holiday season is also the high season of identity thieves and scammers. Thus, I encourage New Yorkers to protect their hard-earned dollars and follow the online shopping safety tips offered by the Department of State's Division of Consumer Protection."
Source: Press Office, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
"With more and more New Yorkers turning to online deals this holiday season, cyber criminals are looking for ways to take advantage of unsuspecting shoppers using increasingly sophisticated tactics," Governor Cuomo said. "I encourage all New Yorkers to exercise diligence to protect themselves when shopping throughout the holidays and beyond."
In 2016, there were 20,205 identity theft complaints reported by consumers in New York State. According to the FBI's 2016 Internet Crime Report, New Yorkers claimed a total loss of over $106 million resulting from cyber-related crimes. To maximize the chances of securing great online deals, while minimizing online shopping risks, consumers should engage in safe online behavior. This holiday season, and all year long, keep the following tips in mind when purchasing online.
Black Friday shopping tips:
Take Note of the Purchase and Use Rules Related to Gift Cards -- Consumers should carefully review the terms and conditions of use prior to purchasing a gift certificate or card, including the imposition of various fees, especially 'dormancy fees' for non-use. Consumers should also check the card's expiration date and determine if there are any restrictions on the use of the gift card. They should be aware of the replacement policy in case it is lost or stolen.
Be Careful Purchasing Big Ticket Items -- When purchasing big ticket items, consumers should look for warranty coverage on the item; check out stock availability; and, evaluate financing options carefully. As consumers comb retail advertisements, they should take note of the fine print and the quantity of the product available at the advertised price, as well as whether rain checks are available.
Understand Layaway Plans -- Layaway plans vary by store. Consumers should make sure they read all of the terms in the contract and have their questions answered regarding the payment schedules, refund policies and penalties for missing a payment before moving forward with a layaway. A copy of the contract and a record of payments should be retained by the purchaser.
Read the Retailers Refund and Return Policy -- Consumers should review a store's refund policy before considering a purchase. If the store does not post a return policy, the law requires the store to accept a receipted return within 30 days of purchase. It is important to inquire whether the store imposes a re-stocking fee for returned merchandise and determine prior to purchase if the item can be returned for a refund or store credit only.
Avoid Credit Card Debt -- If not careful, holiday purchases may cost consumers more than what is on their receipt. Consumers are urged to avoid credit card debt by tracking their spending, being cognizant of credit card limits, stick to a realistic budget and verify receipts and reconcile them against their statement. In addition, consumers should refrain from using their credit card for cash advances. The fees and interest on such transactions are higher than for credit card purchases. Always review your monthly credit card statements carefully to ensure that you are being billed for the correct dollar amount.
Cyber Monday Online Shopping Tips:
Do your Research. Shop with merchants and websites you know and trust. Check out the seller's reputation at the Better Business Bureau to see if there are any reviews that mention potential scams or problems. Also, review the privacy policy of the merchant website and understand what personal information is being requested and how it will be used, and if it will be shared or sold to others.
Protect your Computer. Keep your operating system and application software updated on all computers and mobile devices. Be sure to check that your anti-virus/anti-spyware software is running and receiving automatic updates. Confirm that your firewall is enabled.
Be Wary of Ads. Avoid clicking on banner ads or pop-ups since they may link to a malicious website. If you see an advertisement from a reputable brand for a deal or promotion that you are interested in, go to the company's website directly for more information.
Shop Safely. Before making an online purchase, make sure the website uses secure technology. Verify the web address begins with "HTTPS". The "s" stands for "secure" and indicates that communication with the webpage is encrypted. Do not use public computers or public Wi-Fi for your online shopping. Public computers may be compromised with malicious software that steals your credit card information when placing an online order. Traffic on public wireless networks may also be intercepted by criminals to steal credit card numbers and other personal information.
Keep Documentation of your Order. Save records of your online transactions, including the product description and price, the online receipt, and the emails you send and receive from the merchant. Review your credit card statements to confirm that all charges are legitimate. If you have unauthorized charges on your account, contact your credit card company immediately.
New York State Chief Information Officer Robert H. Samson said, "The convenience and ease of online shopping continues to draw in more consumers each holiday season. As online shopping grows, so too does the risk of theft, fraud and abuse by cyber criminals. There are many steps New Yorkers can take to protect themselves this holiday season, and I encourage everyone to be cautious when shopping online to safeguard their financial information."
New York Secretary of State Rossana Rosado said, "We all enjoy the thrill of nabbing a good online bargain, and Cyber Monday is an ideal time to find such deals. Unfortunately, the holiday season is also the high season of identity thieves and scammers. Thus, I encourage New Yorkers to protect their hard-earned dollars and follow the online shopping safety tips offered by the Department of State's Division of Consumer Protection."
Source: Press Office, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
Extra Savings with NYS Sales Tax Exemption This Black Friday
The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance today reminded
bargain hunters and retailers that clothing and footwear items sold for
less than $110 are exempt from New York State’s 4% sales tax. Several
counties and New York City exempt these items from local sales tax as
well.
In all, the New York State and available local exemptions provide
consumers with more than $300 million in tax savings—and more than $1
billion annually.
“We don’t reserve our sales tax holidays for certain dates on the
calendar,” said NYS Tax Department Acting Commissioner Nonie Manion.
“It’s the gift that keeps on giving: every day is a sales tax holiday in
New York State on qualifying clothing and footwear purchases, providing
consumers more purchasing power during the holiday season and
throughout the year.”
Shoppers statewide who make qualifying purchases don’t have to pay the 4% state sales tax.
In addition, Chautauqua, Chenango, Columbia, Delaware, Greene,
Hamilton, Tioga, and Wayne counties, as well as New York City, exempt
clothing and footwear purchases under $110 from their local sales taxes.
This means an exemption for shoppers of nearly 9% in New York City
and 8% in the eight participating counties. Even in counties that don’t
offer the exemption, qualifying purchases will still be exempt from the
4% state sales tax, though the local sales tax (ranging from 3% to 4
7/8%) will be in effect.
The state exemption alone translates into about $900 million of
savings annually. The combined amount from the state and local sales tax
exemptions is more than $1 billion annually.
Serious savings for shoppers
For example, a mother in Brooklyn, shopping for her child in New York
City, purchases a pair of sneakers for $100, two shirts at $40 each,
and two pairs of $55 pants for a total cost of $290. She would have paid
$25 in sales tax without the exemption.
Likewise, an uncle in Wayne County, shopping for his niece in Lyons,
purchases three shirts at $20 each and a pair of $40 pants for a total
of $100. The combined state and local sales tax exemptions on his
purchase are $8.
Source: New York State Department of Taxation and Finance
Happening in Harlem: Buy Black Friday
A Cultural Retail Experience in Support
of Business Owners and Vendors
of Business Owners and Vendors
Fashion * Wine Tasting * Food * Pop Art * Tai Chi Demo
Door Prizes at 11am!
11am to 8pm, November 24, 2017
ImageNation's RAW SPACE
(7th bet 121st & 122nd)
New York, NY 10027
Source: ImageNation
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