Saturday, April 27, 2019

The NYC Board of Elections Just Made It Easier for People with a History of Domestic Violence to Hurt, Maim or Kill

 
Women with Orders of Protection or in Hiding to Keep
Their Children Safe Should Be Extremely Concerned!

From The G-Man strongly opposes the New York City Board of Elections (BOE) decision to publish the names, addresses and party affiliations of voters! 

If Board of Elections officials are going to continue doing this and cite that it's already part of the public record as a defense, then.....

1. People should have a right to force the BOE to redact their addresses. Period, end of story!

2. Safeguards should be put in place by the BOE to prevent domestic abusers, gang members with a score to settle, pedophiles, stalkers or rapists from freely accessing the address information. Each of the aforementioned may have had difficulty locating their intended target, but that will no longer be the case. Someone could end up hurt, maimed or worse. Given the increasing number of violent acts occurring in New York City and across the country, the chances that someone will be victimized as a result of the BOE decision are high.

From The G-Man is urging Mayor Bill de Blasio, city officials and the BOE to convene a special meeting to address this issue. You owe it to every New York City resident that has been victimized and managed to escape their abuser.  

To Save Public Housing, New York Warily Considers a New Approach: Tear Some Down

 
A plan would replace two buildings in Chelsea with mixed-income private developments. Residents fear displacement.

Click here for the report.

Source: The New York Times 

Public Records: Personal Information on New York City Voters Is Now Available for All to See


The city’s Board of Elections posted its voting rolls to its website, allowing anyone to access people’s home addresses and party affiliation. 

Click here for the report.

Source: The New York Times

Mayor de Blasio Presents Fiscal Year 2020 Executive Budget


This video was published on YouTube on April 25.

Archdiocese of New York Releases Names of 120 Predator Priests, Many Now Deceased

 
Click here for the report.

Source: The New York Daily News

HHS Nearing Plan to Roll Back Transgender Protections, Cuomo Responds


Click here for the report. 

Source: Politico 

Statement by Governor Andrew Cuomo

"The Trump administration's latest scheme to overturn an Obama-era rule under the Affordable Care Act that provided anti-discrimination protections for transgender Americans is repugnant and unacceptable.

"While this federal administration works to roll back healthcare, in New York we are doing the opposite. We took action in this year's state budget to ensure all New Yorkers are protected from insurance discrimination by enshrining these critical protections from the Affordable Care Act into state law.

"After reports last summer that the Trump administration could propose this despicable rule, at my direction the State Department of Health issued regulations prohibiting health care providers from discriminating against transgender patients. Also at my direction, the Department of Financial Services issued regulations expanding the scope of anti-discrimination protections for trans individuals when it comes to accessing health insurance, and issued a circular letter reminding industry participants that discrimination on the basis of gender identity is already prohibited in New York in certain policies.

"My message to transgender and gender nonconforming New Yorkers is simple: We have your back. Your healthcare will not be jeopardized because of this proposed rule. And we will not stop fighting to ensure equal protections for every New Yorker regardless of their gender identify."

Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

Girls for Gender Equity Issues Call to Action: 'Let's Take the New York City Department of Education by (Twitter) Storm!'

Click on the flier to increase its size.

The following announcement was submitted by Brittany Brathwaite, Girls for Gender Equity's Manager of Organizing and Innovation. 

Last October, we launched our School Girls Deserve Campaign, and we’re ready to take the campaign into its next phase starting with a press conference and hearing on April 30.

Let's get you caught up on what we've been able to accomplish.

We’ve held ongoing meetings with New York City Council and government agencies in effort to hire seven full-time Title IX coordinators in field offices throughout New York City. Currently, only one person is tasked with supporting all 1.1 million students in New York City's 1,800 public schools, which, as you know, means that students are often left without support when incidents of sexual harassment occur.
    
We also attended and gave testimony at the New York City Council Preliminary Education Budget Hearing detailing the experience and effects of sexual harassment in schools. Following the hearing, Councilmember Adrienne Adams introduced a resolution calling on the city to hire seven full-time Title IX coordinators, and now the Council has scheduled an oversight hearing on Title IX and Gender Discrimination for April 30, 2019!
    
Our request for the hires was included in the City Council’s preliminary budget response.

In advance of our press conference, we're planning a Twitter storm on April 29, at 1:30 p.m. (EST), in order to make the New York City Department of Education hear and understand what young people of color in New York City are experiencing.

Click here for additional information and to join our effort. 

Friday, April 26, 2019

Gainesville Independent School District's 2018-2019 Teachers of the Year

Source: Gainesville ISD

It's "Feel Good Friday" on From The G-Man

After watching this report, I invite you to scroll down and review other heartwarming and humorous posts. You and your loved ones have a good and safe weekend. 

"G-Man"

Flashback Friday: Abbott & Costello's 'Who's on First'


This video was published on YouTube on September 17, 2015. 

Source: thescribefiles

Comedy Classics: The Little Rascals, 'Chubbsy Ubsy'


This video was published on YouTube on October 18, 2011. 

Source: Chris Cardona

Good Samaritan Stops Officer Attack


This report was published on YouTube on April 25.

Meet Make-A-Wish® Alum Tim Samuel


From The G-Man wishes Mr. Samuel well in his ongoing battle. Fight on, man! You rock! 

Young Athletes' Lives Will Change in an Instant at Star-Studded NFL Draft Day


How Jeopardy! Champion James Holzhauer Continues to Set Records


10-Year-Old Girl Born with No Hands Wins National Handwriting Competition


This report was published on YouTube on April 25.

24-Year-Old Wins $768 Million Jackpot


This report was published on YouTube on April 24.

Professional Ice Climber Will Gadd Helps Scientists Learn More About Climate Change


This report was published on YouTube on April 24.

Chick-fil-A Delivers Food to Boy in Hospital on a Sunday


High School Senior Hasn't Missed School in 13 Years, in Honor of His Late Sister


16-Year-Old Hears Dad's Heartbeat 12 Years After He Died


This report was published on YouTube on April 25.

Last Surviving Member of First Navy SEAL Team Turns 94


This report was published on YouTube on April 24.

Honduran Brothers Reunited Six Months After Being Separated at U.S. Border


This report was published on YouTube on April 24.

Permaculture Brings Prosperity to Ethiopia's Rural Areas


Thursday, April 25, 2019

Director John Singleton is in a Coma After Suffering Major Stroke


New York Investigating Facebook Over 'Unauthorized' Email Contact Collection


Click here for the report. 

Source: Reuters

Seeing is Believing: 'Women Direct' to Premiere at the Artemis Film Festival

 Click on the flier to increase its size.

Los Angeles, CA — Emmy® winning actress-turned-director Cady McClain’s Seeing Is Believing: Women Direct will make its Los Angeles premiere at the opening night, April 26 at 9:30pm, of the 2019 Artemis Film Festival held at the Monica Film Center, followed by a second screening on April 27.
 
McClain’s documentary film emphasizes the opportunity for women to use their voice through media to change the social and political landscape and achieve full equality.

Focusing on inspiring and uplifting young female storytellers through the mentorship and leadership of four diverse directors, Seeing Is Believing: Women Direct opens the conversation up to ask, “What is the broader role of storytelling in our society and how can women use filmed media as a unique opportunity to catalyze progress?” The film is additionally bolstered by important insights from male and female-identifying filmmakers to show how collaboration, rather than oppression, can incentivize all genders to connect to our shared human experience.

Screenings:

Friday, April 26
9:30 p.m. at Laemmle's Monica Film Center
1332 2nd St. Santa Monica, CA 90401
Followed by Q&A with the filmmakers and featured directors

Saturday April 27
2:20 p.m. at Laemmle's Monica Film Center
1332 2nd St. Santa Monica, CA 90401
Screening followed by Q&A with the filmmakers and featured directors

4:30 p.m. Curator Magazine presents “Powerhouses of Female Fortitude”, a panel discussion called to discuss how women persevere in the industry while also championing other women. Confirmed guests include Maikiko James of Women in Film Los Angeles, Liz Manashil of Sundance Creative Distribution Initiative, Heather Allin, former president of ACTRA, and Tige Charity, founder of Kids in the Spotlight.

6:30 p.m. VIP Reception hosted by The Chimaera Project

The panel will be followed by an open reception hosted by The Chimaera Project at during which the festival awards will be given. The Chimaera Project recognizes the collective voice as a catalyst for social change. They are dedicated to empowering filmmakers who identify as female to fearlessly create, inspire and lead! Their goal is to create change by demonstrating an inclusive model.


Seeing Is Believing: Women Direct is an in-depth investigation into the challenges faced by women directors and the tools they use to overcome them. The film focuses on the journeys of four articulate filmmakers - Lesli Linka Glatter (EP/Director Homeland), Sarah Gavron (Suffragette), Li Lu (There is a New World Somewhere) and Naima Ramos Chapman (HBO’s Random Acts of Flyness) - who provide a wonderfully eclectic and informative mix of perspectives. The film’s central subjects are honest without complaining, direct without blaming, and optimistic about change. They share valuable insights into how they became directors and discuss what steps are required to ensure more women are given the opportunity to work at the highest levels of the film industry. ~ St Louis Film Festival.

To learn more visit: https://www.cadymcclain.com/ or http://seeingisbelievingwomendirect.com/ 

Source: Cady McClain

After Mueller Revelations, How to Protect Election Integrity in 2020


This report was published on YouTube on April 24.

Former Florida Officer Sentenced in 2015 Death of Stranded Black Motorist



Baltimore City Hall, Mayor’s Homes Raided Amid Scrutiny Over Book Deals


Joe Biden Announces 2020 Run


Has the US Failed Rape Victims in Wars?


China Shows the World It’s Ready for War


This report was published on YouTube on April 23.

Iraq PM: We Will Try to Ease US-Iran Tension


Mali's Rebel Leaders Face UN Sanctions Over Continued Attacks


Women Set to Play Crucial Role in Indian Election Outcome


Climate Protests Continue in London, Leading to Disruption in Financial District


Moscow Facilitates Russian Passports for Ukrainians in Donbass Region


US-China Trade Talks: Is the End Near?


Sudan Military Council Says 'Agreement' Reached with Protest Leaders


Israeli Director Amos Gitai on His New Film 'A Tramway in Jerusalem'


Facebook Not Protecting Canadians’ Privacy, Legislative Reform Needed: Watchdogs


Kim Jong Un and Putin Hold First-Ever Summit Meeting


Global News: Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea leader Kim Jong Un met in Vladivostok, Russia for historic meetings.

$280 Million Available for Energy Storage Projects to Combat Climate Change


Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced that $280 million of support is available for energy storage projects to accelerate growth within the industry and drive down energy storage deployment costs to build a sustainable and affordable market. This funding, announced during Earth Week, is part of a $400 million investment to achieve New York's nation-leading energy storage deployment target of 3,000 megawatts by 2030, and supports Governor Cuomo's Green New Deal, a clean energy and jobs agenda that puts New York State on a path to a carbon-neutral economy.

"While the federal administration denies the devastating reality of climate change, New York continues to invest in its future by building a more efficient clean energy system," Governor Cuomo said. "Energy storage is vital to our resiliency work and this funding will enable us to grow the industry and create jobs while we continue on our path toward meeting the country's largest energy storage target."

"We're investing in projects and programs to advance our aggressive energy goals across the state," said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. "This funding continues our efforts to support clean energy and energy storage projects, growing the industry and creating good jobs. New York is leading the nation to ensure a cleaner and greener environment for future generations and working to combat climate change."

Energy storage enhances the efficiency of the electric grid by capturing excess power from wind and solar energy sources and storing that excess power in industrial-sized batteries for later use. Importantly, energy storage will enable these resources to meet periods of peak demand.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority's (NYSERDA) Market Acceleration Bridge Incentive Program will help incentivize approximately two-thirds of the State's 1,500-megawatt target of energy storage by 2025, supporting a self-sustaining market for the State. Funding is available in two categories: $150 million for bulk storage projects: systems over five megawatts that primarily provide wholesale market energy or distribution services, and $130 million for retail storage projects: customer-sited systems below five megawatts, which are smaller and installed alone or paired with onsite generation such as solar.

Click here for the full announcement. If not posted, check the site later in the day.

Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

$2.2 Million in Conservation Partnership Program Grants Provided

More than $2.2 million in Conservation Partnership Program grants have been provided for 47 not-for-profit land trusts across the state. A total of 70 grants funded through New York's Environmental Protection Fund will leverage an additional $2.2 million in private and local funding to support projects that protect water quality and farmland, boost public access for outdoor recreation and conserve important open space areas that will benefit community health, tourism and economic development.

"Land trusts make a real difference in local communities, maximizing public and private dollars to protect and preserve New York's natural resources," Governor Cuomo said. "Through the Environmental Protection fund, New York is bolstering our extensive network of land trusts that provide support for environmental and open space programs, generating revenue, creating jobs and ensuring a cleaner and healthier New York."

As part of New York State's week-long celebration of Earth Day, the grants were announced with the Land Trust Alliance at a statewide land trust gathering at Red Jacket Riverfront Park in Buffalo celebrating New York's commitment to protecting the environment. The Land Trust Alliance administers the Conservation Partnership Program in coordination with the State Department of Environmental Conservation.

In addition, the $2.2 million in Conservation Partnership Program grants and $2.2 million in private and local funding will help build the resiliency of lands to the changing climate and contribute to climate solutions by storing carbon. Recent research underscores the role that natural climate solutions will have in addressing risks associated with climate change.

Grant awards range from $3,550 to $100,000, with 17 awards directing $533,970 to the Capital District; four awards directing $111,550 to Central New York and the Mohawk Valley; four awards directing $142,500 to Long Island; 21 awards directing $521,380 to the Mid-Hudson Valley; three awards directing $90,000 to New York City; 11 awards directing $456,100 to the North Country; and 10 awards directing $394,500 to Western New York, the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier. For a detailed breakdown of these grants and an overview of how the funds will be spent is below and also available on the DEC website.

Click here for the full announcement.

Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

ElectrifyNY Coalition Launches Fight for Equitable Electric Transportation Future


The following was submitted by Environmental Advocates of New York

New York, NY -- On April 25, ElectrifyNY, a new coalition of environmental justice, public transportation, public health, and good jobs advocates, launched its campaign for a clean, equitable electric transportation future for the state of New York.
 

ElectrifyNY is calling on New York State to commit to a swift, just transition to a zero emissions transportation future for New York by 2040 -- one that creates good jobs, centers environmental justice communities, and expands access to public transportation in underserved communities.
 

ElectrifyNY is calling on the MTA to release a detailed plan and timeline for a 2040 all-electric fleet. The coalition will unveil a “municipal toolkit” to help transit agencies and officials harness electrification to create good jobs, bring environmental justice communities and frontline workers into the decision-making process, determine the principles of a just transition, shape key equity metrics, and meaningfully integrate community feedback to ensure transparency and public accountability.
 

Transportation emissions comprise 34 percent of New York’s total greenhouse gas emissions. And yet, our state still lacks a coherent long-term plan to reduce transportation emissions in a manner consistent with the state’s broader climate goals.
 

New York State is home to over 100 transportation agencies, including the largest in the nation, the Metropolitan Transit Authority. The MTA alone purchases 30 percent of all transportation vehicles in the country and emits more than half a million metric tons of greenhouse gases annually.
 

In New York City, bus riders from low income communities and communities of color account for 75 percent of total ridership. With nearly half of the MTA’s buses still burning diesel fuel, these riders are disproportionately impacted by the poor air quality and noxious emissions from diesel burning buses. After a recent investigation revealed that 75 percent of the MTA’s bus depots are located in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color and that neighborhoods like East New York and Brownsville are disproportionately serviced by the oldest buses, the MTA announced it would retire those buses by May.
 

Earlier this year, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) mandated that all transit agencies in the state electrify public bus fleets by 2040. As the largest city in the U.S. with the largest public bus fleet, New York can follow suit and become a national leader, not only for electrifying transit, but for doing it the right way: centering environmental justice and good job creation to ensure a truly just transition for all New Yorkers.

“New York City’s environmental justice communities are impacted by a variety of undue burdens. The transportation sector is no exception. Our communities rely on public transportation the most, and we are also the most impacted by tailpipe pollution from dirty diesel buses, due to the prevalence of bus depots in our neighborhoods and the oldest diesel buses being deployed in our streets. Our children suffer from asthma and other respiratory ailments from fine particulate matter emitted into our air. Our communities deserve better. We want to see our State leadership commit to a zero-emission, all-electric vehicle transition to clean our air, and improve public health in environmental justice communities. Clean air is our right,” said Eddie Bautista, Executive Director of the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance.

Peter M. Iwanowicz, Executive Director of Environmental Advocates of New York said, “The transportation sector is the largest source of pollution in New York with levels higher than they were in the ‘90s. Despite this, the state lacks a coherent long-term strategy to reduce transportation emissions. Leadership must come from the local level by committing to transition to electric vehicles and pushing the state and federal governments for the resources to succeed. Only through investments in electric buses and cars, commitments to all-electric municipal and public transit fleets, and the expansion of public transportation to underserved communities can we move on to a cleaner future.”

“New York policymakers can’t ignore the massive emissions from the transportation sector as they move to implement bigger climate goals,” said Allison Considine, NY Campaign Representative for the Sierra Club. “Reducing transportation emissions means ensuring resiliency for the people of New York, improving health outcomes, and creating green jobs. We must invest in affordable and accessible public transportation -- including zero-emission buses -- and expand the necessary infrastructure and policies, like electric vehicle charging stations, for all New Yorkers to transition to zero-emission vehicles.”

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Mysterious Fires at Ex-Mayor’s Home, City Hall Investigated


Associated Press: A small southeast Missouri town has been under a watchful police presence in the week since nearly simultaneous fires hours after the mayor left office burned her home as well as the building that houses City Hall.

Click here for the report.

Gold Worth Billions of Dollars Being Smuggled Out of Africa


A Reuters Exclusive

Click here for the report.

The Jewish Trumpeter Who Entertained Nazis to Survive the Holocaust

Click here for the report.

Source: The New Yorker

California Tried to Fix Its Prisons. Now County Jails Are More Deadly.


ProPublica: In a 48-hour stretch during January 2018, three men were booked into the Fresno County Jail. One was beaten into a coma. Two died soon afterward. Their cases kicked off a nightmarish year in a local jail.

Click here for the report.

Bernie Sanders Spurs Debate on Prisoner Voting Rights, But the Idea Is 'Not as Radical as It Seems'


Why Teachers Are Managing More Student Needs -- and Struggling to Pay for Their Own


This report was published on YouTube on April 23.

Why Census Experts Fear a Citizenship Question Would Jeopardize Results


2019 Internet Health Report Focuses on Privacy and Artificial Intelligence


Trump Says He Would Take Any Impeachment Attempt to the Supreme Court


President Trump Backs Libyan Military Strongman


Hong Kong's 'Occupy Central' Activists Handed Prison Terms


Ukrainians Fear Measles Vaccination as Infection Rate Rises


China, Russia Abstain from UN Vote on Sexual Violence in Conflict


US Offers $10 Million Reward for Information on Hezbollah's Finances


Lyra McKee Funeral: Full Service for Murdered Journalist


Kim-Putin Summit: North Korean Leader Hopes Meetings Will Be 'Successful'


Sri Lanka Attacks: New Zealand's Ardern Says No Intelligence Linking Mosque Shootings to Bombings


Toronto Holds Vigil to Mark One-Year Anniversary of Van Attack


This report was published on YouTube on April 23.

Feds: Ex-CEO of New York-Based Company is First Drug Exec Indicted in Opioid Crisis


This report was published on YouTube on April 23.

Mayor de Blasio Makes Announcement Regarding Implementing NYC's Green New Deal


This video was published on YouTube on April 22.

She Was Fired After Raising Questions About a DNA Test. Now She’s Getting $1 Million.


Marina Stajic, an official at the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in New York City, raised concerns that the test could lead to wrongful convictions. Her bosses were livid.

Click here for the report. 

Source: The New York Times 

She Was Loyal to Chris Christie. Now She Faces Jail Time for Bridgegate.


Bridget Anne Kelly is scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday for her role in the scandal that involved closing lanes to the George Washington Bridge as political payback.

Click here for the report. 

Source: The New York Times

Violent Crime Continues at NYCHA Properties

 
Click here for the report.

Source: The New York Daily News

NYPD Police Academy Sergeant Transferred After He’s Caught in Affair with Recruit: Sources


Click here for the report. 

Source: The New York Daily News

Brooklyn Rabbi and Wife Beaten in anti-Semitic Attack in Africa


Rabbi Shmuel Notik and his wife, Chaya, were attacked Tuesday night by five stick-wielding crooks who spewed hatred before stealing cash, computers, passports and other valuables, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported.

Click here for the report. 

Source: The New York Daily News 

NY Driver's Licenses May Soon Be Invalid for Domestic Flights

 
Click here for the report.

Source:  NBC New 4 (New York)

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

James Byrd Jr.’s Family Ready for Execution of Racist Who Dragged Him to Death


It’s been 20 years since three men chained Byrd to a pickup truck—shocking the nation’s conscience.

Click here for the article. 

Source: The Daily Beast 

Trump Decides Administration Officials Cannot Attend White House Correspondents Dinner

Click here for the article.

Source: Reuters

Benjamin Netanyahu Plans to Honor Donald Trump By Putting His Name on Something Awful


Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, announced on Tuesday that he plans to name a new illegal settlement in the occupied Golan Heights in honor of Donald Trump, to thank the American president for agreeing to overlook the unlawful nature of Israel’s annexation of the territory seized from Syria in 1967.
The naked appeal to Trump’s vanity — proposing to add his name to the map of the Middle East even as it disappears from apartment buildings in New York — came as Israeli officials expressed alarm that the American president had not yet done enough to sabotage the Iran nuclear deal.

Click here for the full report.

Source: The Intercept_

Why Johns Hopkins Students Are Protesting Against the School's Administration


Right-Wing Vigilantes Hold Migrants Hostage on U.S. Border. Did Border Patrol Give Tacit Approval?


Why We Need to Think About Extremism Differently in Order to Reduce It


N.J. and N.Y. Boy Scout Leaders Accused of Sexual Abuse


Digital Ad Spending Focuses on Hot Button Issues for 2020 Election


The Briefing Room: SCOTUS Census and LGBT Employment Discrimination Cases


Debate Over Impeachment Heats Up After Mueller Report


At Least Four Americans Killed in Sri Lanka Easter Bombings


A New Path for the SPLC

 
By Karen Baynes-Dunning, Interim President and CEO of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)

Hate and extremism are not abstract concepts. Their impact is felt on a daily basis in this country, and their prevalence is growing. Black churches are being burned in Louisiana because of who worships inside, our prison systems are overcrowded with predominantly black men, and the Trump administration continues to tear immigrant families apart at the border.

When I was asked to join the SPLC Board of Directors just over a year ago, I knew that this organization was at the forefront of fighting systemic racism and discrimination, combating hate and extremism, and helping teachers and schools educate children and youth to be active participants in a diverse democracy. I also knew that like many organizations, the work being done externally was most likely not happening internally with the same level of urgency and intensity. My appointment marked the board’s acknowledgement of the need to add new perspectives to leadership.

Over the past two weeks I have spent time talking with SPLC’s staff about their serious concerns regarding our workplace culture. We are listening, we are learning, and we are co-designing strategies to ensure that SPLC lives our values and creates a workplace culture that mirrors the just society that we strive to create.

SPLC has doubled its size over the past two years to fight against the rising tide of hate and all the ways that manifests itself. Anti-black racism and mass incarceration are on the rise. The social safety net is under attack. Anti-Muslim, anti-LGBTQ and anti-immigrant sentiments have never been more pervasive, and the calls for justice from people throughout the country have never been louder. Our focus on meeting the needs of communities eclipsed the development of new infrastructure to meet the needs of our workforce expansion.

When SPLC was founded in 1971, we were a storefront startup in Montgomery. Now we have offices in five states and in Washington, D.C. Workplaces have evolved and so must we. We will learn from our mistakes because that is the only way we can continue to fight for the values that guide our work — truth, justice, inclusion and equity.

Click here for the full article.

Source: Karen Baynes-Dunning 

Jewish Council for Public Affiars Webcast: Navigating the Progressive Conversation

 
Click on the flier to increase its size. 

Source: JCPA

Monday, April 22, 2019

I’ve Seen Goldman Sachs From the Inside. We Need Public Banks.

 
By Nomi Prins

For far too long, Wall Street has wreaked havoc on people’s personal financial stability and our economy as a whole. I should know. As a managing director at Goldman Sachs in the early 2000s, I witnessed firsthand how the banking industry lined their pockets at the expense of customers.

Not much has changed since then. After the mortgage fraud crisis of 2007-08, the biggest banks were slapped with $216 billion in fines – a drop in the bucket for firms that raked in a cool $237 billion last year alone. Infamously, not a single banker went to jail. Today, Wall Street banks continue to commit fraud, enjoy front-row lobbying seats in Washington, write legislation on their own behalf, and maintain easy access to credit courtesy of the Federal Reserve.

Click here for the full article.

Source: Truthout

CEAR Director: If Governor Cuomo Won't Address Probate, Trust and Adult Guardianship Fraud, Federal Intervention May Be the Answer


From The G-Man recently spoke with  Rick Black, Director of the Center for Estate Administration Reform (CEAR), and he expressed extreme disappointment and frustration over the fact that a number of elected officials have failed to address the issue of probate, trust and guardianship fraud in the state of New York. He is equally dismayed that many of them have not responded to repeated requests for comments or meetings.

Black has investigated over 400 suspected fraudulent guardianship cases throughout the country as an intake specialist and has coined the phrase “Isolate the victim, defame legitimate family, and liquidate the estate” to describe the hallmarks of fraudulent guardianship. He has also exposed corruption in probate courts, nationwide, and helped thousands in the process.

In March of 2017, Black spoke at the National Forum on Financial Exploitation by Conservators, which was sponsored by the National Center for State Courts and the Department of Justice. He actively lobbies in Washington, D.C. for improved protections for vulnerable adults and was pivotal in promoting S.178, the "Elder Abuse Protection and Prosecution Act", the nation's first adult guardianship oversight bill. President Trump signed the bill into law on October 18, 2017.

"This is a national crisis that no one in politics or the media is taking seriously, and the scope of this problem is far worse than anyone can imagine. People's lives are being ruined on a daily basis, and that includes New Yorkers. It has to stop," said Black. "If Governor Andrew Cuomo won't address probate, trust and adult guardianship fraud in his state, federal intervention may be the answer."

The following warning, which was addressed to Governor Andrew Cuomo, members of the New York State Senate and Assembly, Mayor Bill de Blasio and the New York City Council, was submitted to and published on From The G-Man in August of 2018.


Governor Cuomo Signs Plastic Bag Ban Bill on Long Island


Here’s How TurboTax Just Tricked You Into Paying to File Your Taxes


Come along as we try to file our taxes for free on TurboTax!

Click here for the report. 

Source: ProPublica

Dear Democrats: Mueller Just Handed You a Road Map for Impeachment. Follow It.

 

You told us to be patient. You told us to be cautious. You told us to wait for Robert Mueller.

Well, the time for waiting is over. And the moment for impeachment hearings has arrived.

Forget the mendacious Attorney General William Barr, and his repeated — and repeatedly dishonest — attempts to summarize and spin the special counsel’s report prior to publication.

You now have access to the report itself, and even the “lightly redacted” 448 pages provide you with a clear and detailed road map for impeaching Donald Trump, in line with Article II, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution: “The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.”

Listen to special counsel Robert Mueller. “With respect to whether the President can be found to have obstructed justice by exercising his powers under Article II of the Constitution, we concluded that Congress has authority to prohibit a President’s corrupt use of his authority in order to protect the integrity of the administration of justice,” he writes, adding: “The conclusion that Congress may apply the obstruction laws to the President’s corrupt exercise of the powers of office accords with our constitutional system of checks and balances and the principle that no person is above the law.”

Click here for the full article. 

Source: The Intercept_