Happy New Year to Those in the U.S. and Abroad

 

Dear Viewers,

Please consider making a donation to this news and information site in support of independent journalism, freedom of the press, special investigative reports like the ones showcased in the "Exclusives and Feature Stories" section of this page, and other stories that are being worked on for 2019. 

If you have a PayPal account, donations can be made with a debit or credit card through "From The G-Man"'s PayPal account, FromTheGMan@gmail.com, or by clicking on the image of "Buster" on the right-side of the page. 

Even the smallest of contributions would the help the site's continuing effort to showcase quality journalism and the issues that matter most to you and your loved ones. 

Thank you! 

"G-Man"  

Isaac Asimov's Predictions for 2019

This video was published on YouTube on December 30. 

Isaac Arthur: 35 years ago, Science Fiction's Grandmaster, the late Isaac Asimov, made some predictions for 2019. As we head into the New Year, we'll take a look at those predictions and see what he got right, what he got wrong, and what it tells us about trying to predict our own future, 35 years from now.

2018 State of Black Health

This video was published on YouTube on September 26. 

The State of Black Health National Conference convened public health professionals, social justice leaders and community advocates in pursuit of health equity for African Americans. This inaugural annual event kicked off in Atlanta and examined the core influences on health including economic, institutional, and social inequalities.

Source: NAATPN

2018 Was a Bad Year for the NRA, and the Worst Could Be Yet to Come

 

By Nick Wing

The National Rifle Association began 2018 with plenty of reason for optimism. 

Two horrific mass shootings had rocked the nation in the previous three months ― one of them the deadliest in modern U.S. history ― but by January, any fervor for gun control in Congress had mostly subsided. With a staunch ally in the White House and GOP majorities in both branches of Congress, at least through the end of the year, the NRA seemed positioned to advance its pro-gun agenda over the next 12 months, further cementing its standing as one of the nation’s most politically influential organizations.

Instead, in the waning days of 2018, the NRA now appears to be worse off than it has been in years. The group has made no progress on its federal legislative priorities, and reportedly faces stiff financial headwinds, as well as the looming threat of a pair of explosive scandals involving Russian money and influence.

Perhaps more concerning for the NRA, this year made clear that it’s losing its stranglehold on the conversation around firearms in the U.S. The February school shooting in Parkland, Florida, led to surging momentum in favor of stronger gun laws. A student-led movement emerged in response, quickly singling out the NRA as its chief enemy, and ultimately helping gun safety candidates win victories in the midterm elections. Doctors also jumped into the anti-NRA fray later in the year, publicly thumping the group over its demands that the medical community keep quiet on issues of gun violence.

Click here for the full article.

Source: The Huffington Post

Hillary Clinton Posts Year-End Thoughts, Calls 2018 ‘A Dark Time For Our Country’

 

By Jenna Amatulli

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton shared a heartfelt post on Instagram on Monday to reflect on 2018.

“In many ways, 2018 was a dark time for our country,” she wrote.

“As it ends, I’m grateful to everyone who brought light into it: activists who protected kids at the border, journalists who stood up for truth, organizers who mobilized voters for the 2018 elections, candidates who ran races with grit and inspiration, voters who made their voices heard, and absolutely everyone who marched, donated, called, and protested to fight for the values we share.”

Click here for the full article. 

Source: The Huffington Post

Here Are 21 LGBTQ Celebrity Coming-Out Stories That Shaped 2018

 

By Curtis M. Wong

In spite of recent social strides, the number of LGBTQ people who say they’ve experienced discrimination on the basis of their sexuality or gender identity appears to be on the rise.

Such figures, of course, only serve as a reminder of the significance of queer visibility, and seeing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer actors, artists and other public figures live authentically remains both empowering and subversive. 

2018 saw some celebrities, including Janelle Monáe, Lucas Hedges and Amandla Stenberg, share their sexualities in interviews with high-profile outlets. Others, like “Grey’s Anatomy” star Jake Borelli and professional golfer Tadd Fujikawa, took a more direct route by using social media to speak about their authentic selves with fans. 

In some cases, they stoked a fair share of controversy, too. Rita Ora revealed she’s been in relationships with women after releasing a song, “Girls,” that many deemed problematic for the LGBTQ community. Jason Mraz was accused of cultural appropriation online after using the Native American term “Two Spirit” to describe his experiences with men and women. 

Click here for the full article. 

Source: The Huffington Post

‘BlacKkKlansman’ Was the Most Frighteningly Accurate Movie of 2018

 

By Talia Lavin

To mark the end of 2018, we asked writers to revisit some of the year’s most noteworthy (for good or evil) events, people and ideas. See the other entries here between now and the new year.

2018 was a year overstuffed with culture. That’s just the way it is now, movies and TV and songs and memes and thoughtful features and endless, endless politics scrolling past our weary eyes at the speed of silicon and too-blue light.

But in all the chaos there’s a moment where my hazy memories of frenetic consumption pause, for a piece of filmmaking that called on me to think hard and to remember. That movie was Spike Lee’s “BlacKkKlansman.” It’s currently raking in a modest haul of awards, but for me, it’s going to linger long past the last bottle of popped January 1st champagne, a remarkable slice of light to which I’ll return for years to come.

Much has been said about the film ― its ambition, historicity and panache have been amply noted. But I’ve elected to discuss it here because I admire it as a piece of artistry and as a salvo launched at the perfect cultural moment. 

The film is about a pioneering black cop who confronts the Ku Klux Klan, providing the voice of a would-be Klansman on the phone while his Jewish co-worker offers a white body to attend the meetings in person. Any summary would be a bare gesture at the substance of the movie, which deftly conjures up the early 1970s with both winking kitsch and careful verisimilitude. “BlacKkKlansman” delivers more than any blockbuster ever needs to, filling its slick packaging with layers of complexity that Hollywood rarely allows for.

Click here for the full article. 

Source: The Huffington Post 

Minimum Wage Increase in New York State Takes Effect Today

 

The minimum wage increase in New York State takes effect today, rising to $15 for large employers in New York City and continuing to rise all across the state. The Governor also reminded workers to contact the Wage Theft Hotline (1-888-4-NYSDOL) to report employers not complying with the increase. In coordination with the increase, last week the New York State Department of Labor launched a public education campaign to raise awareness about the new minimum wage. 

"New York State is leading the way fighting for economic justice and making a real difference in the daily lives of New Yorkers," Governor Cuomo said. "We will always stand with the working women and men of New York, and with this historic minimum wage increase we have taken another step forward in the fight for the dignity and respect of hardworking families."

The launch of the public education campaign includes TV, radio, and subway ads, as well as online video. The campaign reminds New Yorkers that all minimum wage workers across the state will receive a raise today, and educates them about the steps they should take if they do not receive their raises. The video airing on television is available here, and video for digital platforms is available here.

 $15 Minimum Wage Phase-in

The $15 minimum wage legislation was passed as part of the 2016-17 state budget, and marked a major accomplishment in the Governor's efforts to restore economic justice and fairness to working families in New York State. The phase-in schedule on a regional basis is as follows:

For workers in New York City employed by large businesses (those with at least 11 employees), the minimum wage rose to $11 at the end of 2016, then another $2 each year after, reaching $15 today, December 31, 2018.

For workers in New York City employed by small businesses (those with 10 employees or fewer), the minimum wage rose to $10.50 at the end of 2016, then another $1.50 each year after, reaching $13.50 today, December 31, 2018, rising to $15 on 12/31/2019.

For workers in Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester Counties, the minimum wage increased to $10 at the end of 2016, then $1 each year after, reaching $12 today, December 31, 2018, rising to $15 on 12/31/2021.

For workers in the rest of the state, the minimum wage increased to $9.70 at the end of 2016, then another $0.70 each year after, rising to $11.10 today, December 31, 2018, reaching $12.50 on 12/31/2020 - after which the minimum wage will continue to increase to $15 on an indexed schedule to be set by the Director of the Division of Budget in consultation with the Department of Labor.

Click here for additional information. 

Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo 

The Long Hand of U.S. Intervention: The Intercept’s 2018 World Coverage

Many of the world’s troubles are legacies of American intervention. In Iraq, there is the continuation of a war that began with the U.S. invasion in 2003. One of the casualties is an American citizen imprisoned in Iraq for more than a decade, a victim of torture, secret evidence, and witnesses who later recanted. Decades of U.S. meddling in Central America, and support for repressive dictatorships there, have undermined social fabrics; gangs are rampant, and if joining them is easy, getting out is not. In Yemen, where the Saudi-led war has been supported by the U.S. military, children are dying of starvation.

Click here for the full article. 

The World in 2019: What to Expect Next

A Look at the Most Memorable Stories of 2018

Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour Lit Up by Spectacular Display

New Year's 2019: North Korea's FULL Celebration in Pyongyang

New Year's Eve 2019 Countdown Celebrations

Global News: Comprehensive coverage of New Year's Eve celebrations and 2019 countdowns around the world, beginning in Auckland, New Zealand and finishing up in New York City's Times Square.

1830 GMT – New Delhi, India 1900 GMT – Karachi, Pakistan 2000 GMT – Dubai, UAE 2100 GMT – Moscow, Russia 2200 GMT – Athens, Greece 2200 GMT – Cape Town, South Africa 2300 GMT – Paris, France 2300 GMT – Rome, Italy 2300 GMT – Berlin, Germany 0000 GMT – London, UK 0500 GMT – New York City

Top Canadian Political Stories of 2018

This report was published on YouTube on December 30.

2018 Year in Review: In Memoriam

This video was published on YouTube on December 30.

Mayor de Blasio Discusses New Year’s Eve Security

This video was published on YouTube on December 28.

Woman in Labor Walks Across Graduation Stage to Receive College Diploma

Nurse, Mom Make Baby's First Christmas in Hospital Special

This report was published on YouTube on December 26.

MLB Rookie Brady Singer Uses New Contract to Pay Off Parents' Debt for Christmas

This report was published on YouTube on December 27.

How You Treat People Is Who You Are!

This video was published on YouTube on January 14, 2018. 

Source: Fearless Soul

Top 10 Magic Tricks for Kids

This video was published on YouTube on July 12, 2018. 

Source: Rich Ferguson

Old Movie Stars Dance to 'Uptown Funk'

This video was published on YouTube on October 6, 2015. 

Source: Nerd Fest UK

15 Ways to Make Money as a Teenage Entrepreneur

This video was published on YouTube on December 25. 

Source: Cass & Bran

Nameplates on Indian Houses Aim to Empower Women

Ugandan Slum Children Find Hope in Chess

International Charities Works for Brighter Future for Malawi Girls

This report was published on YouTube on December 26.

VOA News: Two international charities have launched a program in Malawi aimed at helping girls in rural areas stay healthy and stay in school. The charities are running girls clubs in the Mulanje district in southern Malawi, a hotspot of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Nearly 10 percent of Malawians have the virus, and the bulk of new infections occur among people in their teens and early twenties. Lameck Masina reports from Malawi's Mulanje district.

Futuristic Fun House Transforms Traditional Games into High Tech Wonders

This report was published on YouTube on December 26.

Storytellers Attempt to Revive a Tradition They Say is Dying Out

This report was published on YouTube on December 26.

Bolivia Bionic Teen Making Prosthetics for Others

Vet Volunteers to Help Homeless Pets

Governor General Julie Payette's New Year's Message

CBC News: Gov. Gen. Julie Payette exhorts us to get out and enjoy the Canadian winter and to explore the country in every meaning of that word.

Times Square New Year's Eve Party: 'Harmony' Themed Crystals Added to Iconic Ball

This report was published on YouTube on December 27.

Arnold Schwarzenegger 2018 - The Speech That Broke the Internet

This video was published on YouTube on December 20.

Sorry, Trump: Most ISIS Recruits in America Aren’t Immigrants, a New Study Suggests

 

By Murtaza Hussain

Ask someone to close their eyes and picture a typical homegrown, American recruit for the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Chances are the image that springs to mind is of a brown-skinned person with an immigrant background, likely with ties to the Middle East, South Asia, or North Africa. That image of the average accused terrorist might be out of date, a new study published by the Rand Corporation suggests. In the study, “Trends in the Draw of Americans to Foreign Terrorist Organizations from 9/11 to Today,” which sought to explore why ISIS has relative successes recruiting in the U.S., researchers found that in recent years the most common demographic profile for an accused terrorist motivated by “radical Islam” has been a native-born American, either white or African-American.

As the nature of terrorism changes — both ideologically and under the influence of new technologies like social media — the average “jihadi” in the United States is starting to look less like the type of person President Donald Trump wants to ban from the country. The finding has serious implications for immigration policies like the so-called Muslim ban, which posit terrorism as something naturally emanating from immigrant communities, particularly of Middle Eastern extraction.

Click here for the full article. 

Source: The Intercept

ProPublica: We Found 95 New, Undisclosed Trump Appointees

 

Among the latest hires: a longtime DuPont manager who is now at an EPA position that is typically not a political appointment.

By Derek Kravitz

We have obtained a list of 95 new Trump administration appointees made over the past six months. Following a pattern we’ve detailed before, many of the hires previously worked on President Donald Trump’s campaign or at conservative think tanks such as the Heritage Foundation. In other cases, appointees seem to have little work experience at all.

We compiled the information from Freedom of Information Act requests and have added the appointees to our Trump Town app, which lets you search the disclosures of nearly 3,000 of them.

Click here for the full article.

From 1968 to 2018: Angela Davis on Freedom Struggles Then and Now, and the Movements of the Future

This report was published on YouTube on December 24.

Muslim Ban: Meet the Yemeni Americans Suing Trump in an Attempt to Reunite with Loved Ones

US Government Shutdown Enters Day 5

 

The partial shutdown of the U.S. government entered its fifth day Wednesday, with no public indication a resolution is imminent.

President Donald Trump spoke about the shutdown Tuesday, asserting that it will continue until his demand for funds to construct a U.S.-Mexico border wall are met.

"I can't tell you when the government is going to be open. I can tell you it's not going to be open until we have a wall, a fence, whatever they'd like to call it," Trump said in the Oval Office after a video conference with U.S. troops, who are stationed overseas.

Click here for the full article.

Source: Voice of America

 (Bonus Report) 

Richard Wolff: We Need a More Humane Economic
System—Not One That Only Benefits the Rich

The Future of U.S. Trade Policy

 

Bloomberg’s Jenny Leonard discusses this year’s key developments in U.S. trade policy and what to look for in 2019.

Click here for video.

'Risk-Free' Trials: What to Know Before You Sign Up for One

U.S. Judge Holds North Korea Liable for Death of American Student

New Jersey Health Scare: Thousands Possibly Exposed to HIV, Hepatitis

Stock Market Suffers Worst December Since Great Depression

Japan Announces IWC Withdrawal to Resume Commercial Whaling

Micro-Chipping Workers: UK Firms Consider Human Implants

Iraqi Tribes Under Fire Over Age-Old Mediation Custom

Tunisia: Protesters Clash with Police After Journalist's Death

This report was published on December 25.

Search for Tsunami Survivors as Death Toll Tops 425 in Indonesia

2nd Child Dies in U.S. Immigration Custody

Classic Christmas Music with Fireplace

This video was published on YouTube on December 2. 

Source: Music Box 

Nat King Cole - 'The Christmas Song'

This video was published on YouTube on December 16, 2012. 

Walter Tan: "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)" is a classic Christmas song written by Mel Tormé and Bob Wells in 1944 and was first recorded by The King Cole Trio in 1946. The song was recorded again in stereophonic version with a full orchestra conducted by Ralph Carmichael using the same arrangement for Nat King Cole's The Christmas Song album in 1961.

Source: Walter Tan

Merry Christmas, Darling - The Carpenters

This video was published on YouTube on January 4, 2010. 

Source: NedNickerson2010

'Future Hope' Column: You'll Never Walk Alone

 

By Ted Glick

When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark
At the end of a storm
There's a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark
Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone.

Rodgers and Hammerstein, 1945

Three months ago, on September 21st, the 13th anniversary of my dear mom’s death after close to a decade of decline due to Alzheimer’s, I had an experience that I still shake my head about.

I was doing one of my early-morning, long-distance bike rides, in the dark at about 5:45 in the morning. I had just finished pedaling up a longish hill and turned onto a long, straight road. As is usual on my rides, my main mental focus was on the street in front of me and for the lights or sound of cars or trucks coming up behind me. Nothing of note had yet come into my brain, as always eventually happens on one of my hour and a half or longer rides.

For me, these rides are my form of meditation.

I remember the thought coming into my mind that this was the day my mom had died 13 years ago. I had been thinking about her all week. Then, from out of nowhere, came the words to and melody of the song, “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”

I don’t know how long it had been since I had heard or thought of this song. I know it’s at least six and a half years because that’s how long I’d been long-distance biking as of three months ago, and I can’t remember ever remembering it over that time. It could easily be 10, 20 or more years. But on this day, this special day for me and my two sisters and others who loved my mom, following several days of remembering her, this song arrived as a gift, as if my mom’s spirit was holding me close.

I was stupefied as I realized what was happening. My mouth dropped and I struggled to understand. My first thought was to wonder if this really was a spiritual revelation, an actual visit by my mom from the world beyond the physical world, “the great mystery” as some call it. My initial thoughts were along the lines of, “how could it be anything but this?” How could a song that had been essentially one of many thousands that I’ve heard somewhere in my past but which has never been one which I’ve sung or even hummed to myself—how could that song, so appropriate for this day, so strengthening, so profound, come to me in this way?

As I continued my ride, as I kept thinking about what was happening, my thoughts went deeper.

Click here for the full article.

Source: tedglick.com

'One Voice': A Holiday Presentation by The USAF Band

This video was published on YouTube on December 1. 

USAF Band: This holiday season The USAF Band offers the beautiful song, "One Voice"…a reminder that together we can create a better world. Watch until the end as one voice becomes a chorus inside the stunning Washington National Cathedral. Let the power of unity light the way throughout this season.

US Soldiers Around the World Send Holiday Messages Home

This video was published on YouTube on December 18. 

Source: AmericaNewsSource

Top 10 Animated Christmas Movies

This video was published on YouTube on November 9.

10 Biggest Christmas Miracles

This video was published on YouTube on January 8, 2016. 

Source: Countdown with/ Fresh

What It's Like to Spend Christmas in Prison

This video was published on YouTube on December 22. 

Source: Ex Con Cody

Venezuelan Migrants Set Up a Band to Cope with Dire Situations

How do the French Celebrate the Holiday Season? With Delicious Food!

This video was published on YouTube on December 21.

Santa Claus Leaves Home to Begin Epic Journey Delivering Gifts

This video was published on YouTube on December 21.

Global News: Kris Kringle has left his home in Lapland, Finland to begin the epic task of delivering gifts to girls and boys around the world before Christmas morning.

Governor Cuomo Delivers Remarks While Distributing Presents in Buffalo

This video was published on YouTube on December 21. 

Source: NYGovCuomo

Mayor de Blasio Reassures New Yorkers in the Wake of Federal Government Shutdown

This video was published on YouTube on December 22. 

Source: NYC Mayor's Office

Happening in Harlem: Kwanzaa at 'The Peace Cafe'

The Peace Cafe will host an evening of entertainment and fun. Singers, dancers, comedians, rappers, spoken word artist and other performers are invited to showcase their skills in a supportive, family-friendly setting. You can perform or just be part of the audience. 

Source: Street Corner Resources

A Song for Defense Secretary James Mattis.....and Everyone That Bounced from the Trump Administration

House Passes Bill with Border Wall Spending

Senate Unanimously Passes Bill Making Lynching a Federal Crime

 

By Mihir Zaveri

The Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed a bill that would, for the first time, explicitly make lynching a federal crime.

“For over a century, members of Congress have attempted to pass some version of a bill that would recognize lynching for what it is: a bias-motivated act of terror,” Senator Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat who introduced the bill, said in a statement. “Today, we have righted that wrong and taken corrective action that recognizes this stain on our country’s history.”

More than 4,700 people, the vast majority of them black, were lynched in the United States between 1882 and 1968, according to the N.A.A.C.P. Perpetrators were rarely prosecuted. Congress has tried and failed some 200 times to pass similar anti-lynching legislation since 1882, according to the bill.

Click here for the full article.

Source: The New York Times 

Defense Secretary Mattis Resigns, Citing Differences Over the Role of Alliances

(Bonus Report)

House Democratic Leader Pelosi 'Shaken' by Mattis' Resignation

NAACP Launches Boycott of Facebook: Platform Is Unhealthy for African Americans & U.S. Democracy

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielson Testifies Before House Judiciary Committee

PBS NewsHour: Nielson testifies before House Judiciary Committee and is expected to address immigrant child's death in U.S. custody.

Senator Lindsey Graham Holds Press Conference

CBS News: U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) will hold a press conference today on the Trump Administration’s decision to withdraw U.S. forces from northeastern Syria.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi Holds News Briefing

GOP Moves to Protect Trump from Primary Challengers in 2020

U.S. Firm Imported Sportswear Made in Chinese Internment Camp, AP Investigation Finds

House to Vote on Temporary Spending Bill to Avoid Government Shutdown

Khashoggi vs Skripal: Was the Western Response a Double Standard?

Erdogan, Rouhani Speak in Ankara After US Announces Syria Pullout

Senators Slam Trump's Syria Decision

Sudan Protesters Torch Ruling Party HQ Over Rising Prices

Mexico: American Dream Over for Many Migrants

UK Outlines Post-Brexit Immigration Plan

Opposition Boycotts Togo Parliamentary Elections Ahead of Polling

DR Congo Elections: Sunday Voting May Get Delayed

Yemeni Mother Arrives in US to Visit Dying Son

Rod Rosenstein, Christopher Wray Announce China-Related National Security Action

The War Against Amazon Is Here

 

By Dave Colon

Almost immediately after Amazon announced on November 13 that it would build a new corporate campus in the Queens neighborhood of Long Island City, critics of the company—and of the multibillion dollar package that helped woo Jeff Bezos to the neighborhood—loudly began making themselves themselves heard.

The anti-Amazon contingent is a combination of longtime anti-gentrification activists, organizers fresh off a campaign season that remade state politics, and elected officials embracing the city’s emerging left, like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. And while the options to stop the up to $3 billion in incentives Amazon could wind up collecting are limited, the forces opposed to the deal have been working nonstop to convince the public that not only does New York not need to give incentives to Amazon, but that the city doesn’t need Amazon at all.

While Governor Andrew “Amazon” Cuomo, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Amazon itself have relied on their power and the promise of 25,000 jobs, organizers have hit the streets, going door to door to rally opposition against the subsidies and connect Amazon’s looming presence to issues such as the affordable housing crisis, New York’s sanctuary city status, and the city’s crumbling infrastructure—whether it’s the subways or the chronically underfunded public housing system.

Click here for the full article. 

Source: Splinter (via Empire Report New York) 

Spectrum Refund: When Can Customers Expect Their $75-$150?

 

By Rick Moriarty 

Syracuse, N.Y. -- Nearly 900,000 Spectrum internet customers in New York can expect refunds of up to $150 under the giant cable company’s consumer fraud settlement with the state’s Attorney General’s Office. But when?

Under the settlement, Charter Communications, which does business as Spectrum, is required to issue $62.5 million in refunds within 120 days. Those refunds consist of $75 to each of more than 700,000 active subscribers who leased modems or Wi-Fi routers unable to deliver the internet speeds promised by the company.

Anyone subscribing to a Time Warner Cable legacy speed plan of 100 Mbps or higher are also eligible for the $75 refund.

In addition, Charter is required to award an additional $75 refund to each of more than 150,000 subscribers who had an inadequate modem for 24 months or longer.

Click here for the full article. 

Source: syracuse.com (via Empire Report New York) 

14 Percent of the Nation's Homeless Population Are in New York City

 

By Kristin Toussaint

The number of people experiencing homelessness in New York City has been growing, according to an annual report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

HUD’s Annual Homeless Assessment Report for 2018, released this week, found that on a single night in Jan. 2018, a total of 552,830 people experienced homelessness across the country. New York City accounted for 78,676 of those people, or just over 14 percent of the nation’s homeless.

Click here for the full article. 

Source: Metro (via Empire Report New York) 

Leaving New York: Population Loss Steepest in U.S.

 
Click here for details. 

Source: WGRZ (via Empire Report New York)

Law Enforcement Accreditation in America: An In-Depth Analysis

Investigation Reveals the NYPD and Many Police
Departments Are Operating as Non-Accredited Entities

A 'From The G-Man' Exclusive

By Gary Glennell Toms 

In the From The G-Man report The Death of Andrew Kearse and the 'Special Relationship' Doctrine, the actions and practices of the Schenectady Police Department were examined after Kearse was taken into custody and died in route to the police station. Kearse's family and their attorney contend the department, namely Officer Mark Weekes, ignored Kearse's pleas for help during a medical distress event, which was captured on the vehicle's surveillance system. Ultimately, a grand jury decided not to indict Officer Weekes.

A portion of the aforementioned report stated the following:

On October 21, News10 (ABC) reported...."Attorney General Barbara Underwood released a statement saying, “regardless of the grand jury’s decision, Mr. Kearse’s Death was a tragedy that never should have happened.” The report also noted that Underwood urged the New York State legislature to enact a statewide policy to treat breathing problems as a medical emergency and that the Schenectady Police Department should also take steps to become an accredited law enforcement agency.

From The G-Man asked a federal law enforcement agent to interpret AG Underwood's request that the Schenectady Police Department take steps to become an accredited law enforcement agency. Under the condition of anonymity, he stated, "If that request was made, it means the department isn't operating as a full-fledged police department. In other words, the officers lack the training necessary to be considered a duly-recognized police department. Basically, again, according to the attorney general's recommendation, the Schenectady Police Department is the equivalent of a volunteer police force."

The report also included a link to a New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services listing of all accredited law enforcement agencies, from Albany to Yorktown. After reviewing the list a second time, approximately two weeks after the exclusive on the special relationship doctrine was published, From The G-Man discovered the New York Police Department (NYPD) was not on the list. The site then contacted Hilary McGrath, the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services's Law Enforcement Accreditation Program Manager. When asked if the New York Police Department is an accredited law enforcement agency, McGrath firmly stated, "No. They are not. It's done on a volunteer basis. We offer the training that allows them to become accredited, but they haven't applied." McGrath was also asked if she had any idea why the NYPD has not taken steps to become accredited. "I have no answer. That's something you'll have to ask the NYPD," she added.

Shortly after speaking with McGrath, the NYPD was contacted in effort to have an official or spokesperson explain why the largest and most renowned police department in the country had not obtained state or national accreditation. The call was forwarded to five different offices, but no one was able to answer the question when posed. An email was submitted to the offices of Police Commissioner James O'Neill and the Deputy Commissioner for Public Information (DCPI) soon after, but they did not respond to the query.

Additionally, From The G-Man located a 2006 article on the City of New York's website that indicated the New York Police Academy had obtained accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., also known as CALEA. A call was placed to the organization to find out if the academy still held its accreditation status, and a representative confirmed that its status was still active and that the NYPD was not listed in CALEA's database as an accredited law enforcement agency.

In order to obtain a better understanding of law enforcement accreditation, its significance, and why the NYPD and many other police departments, nationwide, choose to operate as non-accredited entities, From The G-Man submitted several questions to Paul MacMillan, CALEA's Northeast Regional Program Manager. MacMillan served as Chief of Police for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Transit Police Department, from December 2008 until his retirement in 2014, and holds a Master’s degree in criminal justice administration from Western New England College.

Paul MacMillan

FTG: For the benefit of those who may not be familiar with the term, what exactly is an accredited law enforcement agency?

MacMillan: A CALEA Accredited law enforcement agency is one that has developed policies, procedures and practices that comply with the requisite number of standards within the CALEA® Standards for Law Enforcement Agencies Manual, which is a product promulgated by a 21-member board of commissioners. The standards cover a wide range of operational and administrative subjects and are considered by many to be “best practices” within the respective field. Accredited agencies are required to remain in compliance with these standards and they must demonstrate compliance during annual remote reviews and site-based reviews occurring every four years. They also are presented to Commission Review Committees as candidate agencies and the process must include public feedback, as well as interviews of other professionals impacted by the agency’s service delivery strategies.

FTG: What are the benefits of obtaining accreditation?
 
MacMillan: An accredited agency develops processes for internal review of policies and procedures, and they use data to help make the best possible management decisions. They are required to ensure the service delivery model takes into consideration community needs, resource management, ethics and business principles, accountability and stewardship, and responsibility to the organization’s oath to the public.

Accreditation includes a review from an external entity that has no interest in the organization, and therefore provides unbiased reviews of service strategies and internal control procedures. It requires the agency and its leadership to be transparent and willing to receive both positive and negative feedback, while also maintaining protocols that allow for the proper administration of justice and services.

Accredited agencies have strong community policing philosophies and generally develop a culture of accountability to employees, citizens, other public service organizations. They take into consideration the importance of partnerships and are open to change for the purpose of accomplishing key objectives.

The concept of accreditation supports progressiveness and at the same time institutionalizes important activities that promote accountability. This includes the collection and preservation of data, the use of data in rendering business decisions, and using contemporary strategies to resolve historic or reoccurring public safety problems.

An important concept in accreditation, is “what gets measured gets done”. Because CALEA assesses agencies on an ongoing basis, activities that may otherwise seem tertiary responsibilities are completed regularly. This ensures organizational integrity is maintained and accountability with public resources remains paramount, thereby promoting good stewardship.

FTG: When examining the impact of accreditation on law enforcement agencies, does the data indicate if there are more positives than negatives... or is it inconclusive?

MacMillan: Much of the research, which is limited, in the field of public safety regarding accreditation is clearly driven by the perspective of the researcher. In short, there are some that believe an agency can accomplish the same results without accreditation, while others use the model as a strong management component to ensure they meet their obligations to the community. General reviews of those participating in the process show that when data is collected through the accreditation process there are initial spikes in things like “citizen complaints”. However, these quickly adjust and become more consistent from year to year. From the perspective of CALEA, it is postulated this is indicative of agencies becoming more receptive to addressing key community concerns and establishing processes that are receptive to these ideas. Then, the culture of the organization changes and employees become more aware of their responsibilities, and leadership creates stronger accountability measures. These are positive attributes from accreditation and actually serve to document professional enhancements; however, they are sometimes used to show accreditation does not improve agencies. Again, this can be interpreted differently. However, it is difficult to argue against processes that require critical business practices to be applied perpetually with ongoing reviews of employee actions with regard to established policies that are linked to community priorities.

FTG: Accreditation of law enforcement agencies is done strictly on a volunteer basis. In stark contrast, the hospitals of America must be accredited. Why doesn't the same standard apply to police departments?

MacMillan: CALEA has been asked about this over the years by those serving in legislative capacities and it is the opinion of the organization that voluntary engagement in accreditation creates stronger integrity regarding standards compliance and the use of the standards for agency professional enhancements. To that end, if the process of law enforcement accreditation were to become a mandate, then the model shifts from a tool used by leaders and practitioners for improving the delivery of services and public accountability, to a regulatory strategy that simply serves to control activities of those working in the industry.

CALEA Accreditation requires and encourages the use of creativity in the development of public safety solutions, and it promotes progressiveness. It recognizes variance in needs of communities and does not attempt to tell agencies “how” to achieve desired outcomes; however, it does identify the areas of responsibility and the establishment of goals and objectives. This allows the model to be very portable with regard to geography, organizational function, and many other attributes that impact service delivery models.

Additionally, once programs like accreditation become regulatory in nature, they are more subject to intervention from those with specific agendas. CALEA has remained separated from this concern because it is not affiliated with any governmental or non-governmental agency. We do not directly receive grant funding and our primary charge is to review agencies against the established standards, and the standards are developed through independent research and the subject matter expertise of the board of commissioners.

FTG: Why do non-accredited police departments vastly outnumber their counterpart?

MacMillan: CALEA Accreditation is challenging for a number of reasons. Primarily, it requires agencies to inspect every component of its administrative and operational practices. This is time-consuming and forces those participating to take action to resolve shortcomings and those issues that do not complement the established standards. Leaders of agencies feel they often have too many responsibilities with too few resources to accomplish this type of review and engagement.

There is a cost associated with CALEA Accreditation engagement. These costs can be found on our website but generally range from $3500 to $5700 annually for those in the reaccreditation process. And, agencies participating in CALEA Accreditation must create resources within the agency to ensure compliance with standards and document these actions. Although this is an in-kind expense, it does require the dedication of resource. Some leaders believe these same objectives can be accomplished without the time and expense of the accreditation process. However, again, what gets measured gets done. Our experience tells us that every newly enrolled agency in the accreditation process discovers issues that need resolution and they become more comprehensive and effective in developing sound policies and practices that complement community service priorities.

It’s also important to point out that while the number of accredited agencies is low in comparison to the total number of agencies, those agencies that are CALEA Accredited make up more than 25% of all sworn law enforcement officers in the country.

FTG: Do you believe police departments, nationwide, should be accredited? If yes, what example would you cite as a major reason for them to do so?

MacMillan: We believe that agencies that are focused on becoming the very best public safety services providers should consider CALEA Accreditation as a tool for continuous organizational improvement. The process of accreditation is not about the award, but the ongoing pursuit of professional excellence with an acknowledgment of accountability to the community and its employees.

Agencies that are accredited are required to establish sound training and re-training on key issues like interactions with those suffering from mental illness, they are required to develop evidence integrity processes, they are directed to develop victim support services, they are required to apply control measures for the use of force and then evaluate their applications, they must develop and annually review recruitment and selection protocols, they must have internal grievance procedures, they must control all high-risk activities, and they are required to have readiness plans for critical and unusual occurrences. Although these are just a sampling of the impacts of accreditation, it is clear the model provides sound direction based on many years of experience in the field. For these reasons, agencies committed to effectively meeting their professional obligations should consider accreditation as a solution.

FTG: Would you say a small police department (100 officers or less) is more likely to embrace and successfully complete the accreditation process?

MacMillan: Historically, the largest and the smallest agencies did not engage in accreditation. However, over the past several years we have seen organizations like the California Highway Patrol experience success with our programming; and, we have seen small organizations with less than 25 full-time personnel have success with the model too. We continue to struggle with attracting those agencies with fewer than 10 full-time personnel, which is almost always directly related to having the resources to manage the process in conjunction with daily duties.

FTG: Do you think non-accredited police departments have the right to proclaim they're "the best in the country".....when other departments have received accreditation from CALEA, which is considered the gold standard?

MacMillan: CALEA believes that CALEA Accredited agencies have demonstrated a commitment to professional excellence against a body of standards that are recognized as best practices in the industry. This commitment is an attribute that must be considered when evaluating the overall culture and professionalism of any organization. Because we do not compare agencies against one another, we would never attempt to determine rankings of agencies. However, we do believe our programming has value and those that have been assessed against our standards can claim they have comprehensively reviewed their practices and have made management decisions that complement their mission, purpose and values.

FTG: Tragically, a significant number of Black men, women and teens have been killed by police over the last two decades. Few officers are ever convicted, but some have been charged for the inexplicable or unjustified use of deadly force against people that committed mere misdemeanors or no crime at all. This has been confirmed through multiple news reports. Do you believe accreditation would help prevent these types of incidents?
 
MacMillan: CALEA asserts that a critical portion of the process of accreditation focuses on “use of force” by police personnel in the performance of their duties. This ensures training is conducted ranging from immediate action to de-escalation. De-escalation policies should also include a discussion of proportionality, using distance and cover, tactical repositioning, "slowing down" situations that do not pose an immediate threat, and calling for supervisory and other resources.

Accreditation includes standards with the intent of establishing policies on the use of deadly force that provides officers with guidance in the use of force in life-and-death situations and to prevent loss of life to include that of the officer. Furthermore, there are standards that encourage the establishment of use of force or response to resistance reporting systems within the agency for effective review and analysis. The reporting systems should help identify trends, improve training and employee safety, and provide timely information for the agency addressing use of force issues with the public. Early and accurate reporting helps establish agency credibility.

As you can see from this short discussion, CALEA Accreditation applies great attention to this area that impacts the community and the officers. It strives to strike a balance between officer safety and accountability. And, it works to establish processes of review that promote ongoing development of strategies to reduce the likelihood of death or injury to citizens and police employees.

The work of the police officer is very challenging, and they must remain prepared to address extremely volatile issues in the name of public safety. CALEA takes this public responsibility seriously and applies the concept of training and accountability at every level of the organization to improve the opportunities for the very best outcomes.