Click here for the report.
Source: NBC News 4 New York
Saturday, August 3, 2019
Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School: The Disturbing Truth
An elite D.C. girls’ school thought its founding nuns taught slaves to read. Instead, they sold them off for as much as they could.
Click here for the report.
Source: The Washington Post
SPLC: We're Fighting an Internal Threat to Our Democracy
By the Editors of the Southern Poverty Law Center
In his recent testimony before Congress, Special Counsel Robert Mueller pointedly warned the nation about Russia’s ongoing attempts to meddle in our nation’s elections.
All Americans, regardless of their political beliefs, should be
gravely concerned about this threat from abroad. But we should be
equally – perhaps even more – concerned about efforts to rig our
elections from within.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court gutted a key provision of the Voting
Rights Act in 2013, partisan politicians at the state level have enacted
a wave of voting restrictions that have disenfranchised hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, of people.
The promoters of these laws, including President Trump,
claim they’re intended to prevent individual voters from committing
fraud at the ballot box, such as voting more than once or voting when
they are not eligible. But that’s a fig leaf – and a skimpy one at that.
Researchers have confirmed through exhaustive studies that such fraud
is a myth.
The real threats to democracy are laws and election procedures
clearly designed to help the party in power win elections by placing
needless barriers in front of African Americans, low-income voters and
others who are more likely to vote for their opponents.
Immediately after the ruling in Shelby County v. Holder
six years ago, for example, North Carolina lawmakers enacted new voting
restrictions that were later struck down by a federal court as an
unconstitutional effort to “target African-Americans with almost surgical precision.”
The law’s voter ID provision, the court wrote, “retained only those
types of photo ID disproportionately held by whites and excluded those
disproportionately held by African-Americans.” Plus, its elimination of
early voting disproportionately affected black voters.
To its credit, the U.S. Supreme Court let the lower court’s ruling stand. But a number of other voter suppression laws and procedures
have been allowed by the courts, sometimes because the discriminatory
intent or impact is not as obvious as the North Carolina law.
This summer, the Court decided
that disputes over another form of election-rigging – partisan
gerrymandering – are “non-judiciable,” meaning it will not intervene
when politicians intentionally draw legislative and congressional
districts in ways that give them a partisan advantage.
In her dissent, Justice Elena Kagan, wrote.
The partisan gerrymanders in these
cases deprived citizens of the most fundamental of their constitutional
rights: the rights to participate equally in the political process, to
join with others to advance political beliefs, and to choose their
political representatives. [They] … debased and dishonored our
democracy, turning upside-down the core American idea that all
governmental power derives from the people. These gerrymanders enabled
politicians to entrench themselves in office as against voters’
preferences. They promoted partisanship above respect for the popular
will. They encouraged a politics of polarization and dysfunction. If
left unchecked, gerrymanders like the ones here may irreparably damage
our system of government.
Whether based on race or the political preference of voters,
gerrymandering can sometimes result in the control of legislative bodies
by parties that get fewer votes than their opponents when every member
is on the ballot. Indeed, this happened in the elections for the U.S.
House of Representatives in 2012, when Democrats picked up 1.4 million
more votes than Republicans, yet Republicans won 33 more seats.
In 2018, majorities of voters in Pennsylvania, Michigan and North
Carolina chose Democrats for state House races, yet, because of
gerrymandered maps, Republicans maintained their House majorities in those states.
To be clear, the Supreme Court did differentiate between gerrymandering based on partisanship and that based on race. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that redistricting plans that “explicitly discriminate on the basis of race … are of course presumptively invalid.”
But some civil rights lawyers fear this may be a distinction without a
real difference and that the new precedent could have unintended
consequences for legal challenges to racial gerrymanders. Kristen Clarke
and Jon Greenbaum of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights under law wrote:
The Supreme Court’s Rucho
decision may lead legislators to believe that they can get away with
racial gerrymandering in places where race and party are highly
correlated, by defending these claims on the basis that their decisions
were made for partisan, not racial, reasons. Although the Rucho
decision did not give an express imprimatur to such connivance, history
has shown that those intent on discrimination will use any means
available to achieve their goals.
The Supreme Court’s decision comes at a crucial time. After the 2020
Census, every state will redraw its district lines. Those new maps could
help politicians lock in their power for years even when the majority
of voters may want something different.
Whether through gerrymandering, strict voter ID laws or other types of voter suppression, it’s clear that our electoral system – and democracy itself – is under assault.
That’s why the Southern Poverty Law Center this year launched a new legal team to join the fight for voting rights in the courts and legislatures across the Deep South.
In early July, the SPLC filed suit
against the state of Florida to overturn a new law that contradicts the
explicit language of Amendment 4, a ballot initiative approved by more
than 60 percent of Florida voters last November. The amendment
overturned a Jim Crow-era law that prevented about 1.4 million people
from voting because of previous criminal convictions. In reaction, the
Florida Legislature passed a law requiring those new enfranchised voters
to pay off all court-related debt before they could regain their voting
rights – effectively disenfranchising many of them again.
The SPLC is also suing to overturn
a similar Jim Crow law in Mississippi, one that strips voting rights –
for life – from people convicted of certain crimes. Today, the law
prevents one of every six black adults in the state – and some 200,000
people overall – from casting a ballot.
These are just a few of the cases and causes the SPLC is taking up as
it works to end systematic voter suppression and ensure that everyone
has an opportunity to make their voice heard at the ballot box.
“Many people fought and died so that all citizens have a voice in our
society through the right to vote, yet many men and women –
disproportionately people of color and poor people – have been denied
this right,” said Nancy Abudu,
the SPLC’s deputy legal director for voting rights. “A healthy
democracy depends on full participation by all members of society.”
Why Puerto Rico's New Governor is Already Controversial
This report was published on YouTube on August 2.
Related Article: Free Puerto Rico From Colonialism
What This Summer's Record-Breaking Heat Means for Global Sea Level Rise
This report was published on YouTube on August 2.
House Sees Wave of Republican Retirements, DCCC Experiences Staffing Shakeup
This report was published on YouTube on August 2.
NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo Suspended After Trial Over Eric Garner's Death
This report was published on YouTube on August 2.
New York Alert: Phone Scammers Claiming to Be Government Agencies
The New York State Division of Consumer Protection is alerting consumers of an increase in phone scammers purporting to be from official state agencies attempting to steal personal information from unsuspecting victims.
Similar to a Social Security scam detailed in June, in these cases the caller “spoofs” official phone numbers of state agencies and calls individuals seeking information that could be used to steal identities. Spoofing is when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to a caller ID display to disguise their identity, according to the Federal Communications Commission. In actuality, the call could be coming from anywhere in the world.
Recently, several individuals have received phone calls from what appears to be a primary phone number for the New York State Offices of the Inspector General (212-635-3150). The Inspector General’s Office is working with Law Enforcement to investigate the matter. The Offices of the Inspector General advises that it does NOT make calls from this number. Anyone who receives a call from 212-635-3150 should disregard the call.
“As we see too often, scam artists are pretending to be from official state agencies in an attempt to gain personal information from unsuspecting New Yorkers” said New York State Secretary of State Rossana Rosado, who oversees the Division of Consumer Protection. “Government agencies do not typically call people with little or no warning asking for sensitive information or trying to get a payment over the phone. If it seems suspicious, it probably is. Look for the warning signs and verify the caller before engaging.”
The New York State Division of Consumer Protection and the Federal Communications Commission warn consumers to be suspicious of any unsolicited calls purporting to be from a state agency, such as the Inspector General, and to take note of the following tips:
If an individual receives an inquiry from someone who says they represent a government agency, the individual should hang up and call the phone number on the government agency's website to verify its authenticity. Individuals will normally receive a written statement in the mail before getting a phone call from a legitimate source, particularly if the caller is asking for a payment.
Individuals should not answer calls from unknown numbers. If they answer such a call, they should hang up immediately. If a consumer answers and the caller - or a recording - asks them to press a button to stop getting the calls, they should just hang up. Scammers often use this trick to identify potential targets.
Consumers may not be able to tell right away if an incoming call is spoofed. Call recipients should be extremely careful about responding to any request for personal identifying information. Consumers should not respond to any questions, especially those that can be answered with "Yes" or "No." Consumers should exercise caution if they are being pressured for information immediately.
Consumers should never give out personal information such as account numbers, Social Security numbers, mother's maiden names, passwords or other identifying information in response to unexpected calls or if they are at all suspicious.
Government agencies do not ask for payments via gift cards. Gift cards allow scammers to get money without a trace. Once an individual gives up a gift card number, the scam artist can take the full value without anyone knowing who they are. If someone on the phone asks an individual to buy a gift card and call them back with the number, it is likely a scam.
If a consumer has a voice mail account with their phone service, they should enable a password for it. Some voicemail services are preset to allow access if the user calls in from their own phone number. A hacker could spoof the individual’s phone number and gain access to voice mail if no password is set.
Consumers should seek and employ call blocking tools from their provider and check into apps that block calls. The FCC allows phone companies to block robocalls by default based on reasonable analytics.
Consumers should check their voicemail periodically to make sure they aren't missing important calls and to clear out any spam calls that might fill a voicemail box to capacity.
Source: The New York State Division of Consumer Protection
Happening in Harlem: International Launch of the Health, Wealth and Music Tour
Complimentary Admission
Harlem residents and others are invited to enjoy an evening of Hip Hop, R&B, Jazz, Gospel and Afro-Beat music by Clean Money Music artists, whose main objective is to represent communities of color in a positive light.
The August 9 event, which will run from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., will take place at Marcus Garvey Park on 124th Street and Fifth Avenue.
Source: VozaRivers/New Heritage Theatre Group
Friday, August 2, 2019
A First at a Century-Old Seminary: A Black Woman Takes Charge
It's "Feel Good Friday" on From The G-Man
First Corinthian
Baptist Church in Harlem had 300 members and no website when LaKeesha
Walrond and her husband took over as pastors. Yet, as many churches have
strained
to maintain their congregations, theirs flourished: More than
10,000 congregants now come for Sunday services and for mental health
programs, yoga classes and a free co-working space.
Click here for the report.
Source: The New York Times
After reading this report, feel free to take a break from the relentless Trump/bad news cycle by clicking on this news site's logo and reviewing other feel-good and heartwarming news stories.
You and your family have a good and safe weekend.
G-Man
'Blue Line Run' Honors Slain Davis, Sacramento Police Officers
This report was published on YouTube on July 31.
Heartwarming Military Homecoming Surprises
This video was published on YouTube on June 10, 2019.
Source: House of Highlights
Make-A-Wish®: Randy's Wish to Be a Southwest Airline Mechanic
This video was published on YouTube on July 31.
Newly Naturalized Americans Reflect on Citizenship in a Fraught Political Era
This report was published on YouTube on August 1.
How Collaborating with Idris Elba Helped Actor Aml Ameen Connect with His Roots
This report was published on YouTube on August 1.
American Airlines Names Teen with Down Syndrome Honorary Flight Attendant
This video was published on YouTube on August 1.
Wounded Military Veterans Help Children with Disabilities
This report was published on YouTube on July 31.
Milwaukee Bus Drivers Rescue 2 Children Within Hours
This report was published on YouTube on July 31.
6-Year-Old Sells Lemonade to Take Mom Out on Date After Father Dies of Colon Cancer
This report was published on YouTube on July 30.
NYPD Judge Recommends Termination for Officer Daniel Pantaleo
Statement from Emerald Snipes Garner, Daughter of Eric Garner
New
York, NY – "Today’s decision confirms what we already
knew but we are reinforced by the Judge’s recommendation to fire Daniel
Pantaleo. He committed police misconduct causing the death of my father
Eric Garner. We have waited five years and the time is now for Justice.
We are calling on Commissioner James O’Neal to follow the
recommendation and fire Daniel Pantaleo now. We hope that
the congressional hearing in the Fall that Rev. Al Sharpton and NAN
have called for will further our quest for justice and be the basis for
continued global scrutiny on the way my father’s case was botched."
Source: Mercury
8-Year-Old Texan Girl Uses Her Bionic Hand for First Time
This report was published on YouTube on August 1.
Thursday, August 1, 2019
In Memoriam: Saoirse Kennedy Hill
Granddaughter of Robert F. Kennedy Dies
After Overdose at Family’s Compound
After Overdose at Family’s Compound
Click here for the report.
Source: The New York Times
American Wealth Is Broken
My family is a success story. We’re also evidence of the long odds African Americans face on the path to success.
By Maura Cheeks
Wealth is a number, sure, but it’s also a
feeling. I grew up living with my mom and maternal grandparents, while
my dad played and coached in the NBA. For a time, our family’s safety
net was held together by my grandfather’s HVAC business, but in 2001, it
nearly came apart. That year, the company worked on a project
performing mechanical-contracting work at Lincoln Financial Field, the
home of the Philadelphia Eagles. The timeline did not account for
delays. My grandfather estimates that the company lost $4 million on the
project. Our house was put on the market shortly after. I loved that
house because it felt like home, but also because it made me feel at
home in a predominantly white world, where I felt as if my every move
was on display. The house served as a symbol of wealth to justify
belonging. When we sold it, I felt exposed, as though my family was
showcasing the fragility of black wealth for all to see. I told friends
that my family wanted to downsize. I’m sure they saw through the lie.
Click here for the full article.
Source: The Atlantic
Body Camera Footage Shows Officers Mocking Restrained Man Minutes Before His Death
Tony Timpa, who was unarmed, died after he called for help in 2016. A medical examiner later ruled his death a homicide.
Click here for the report.
Source: The Huffington Post
Why Trump Attacked His Fed Chair After 1st Interest Rate Cut in Years
This report was published on YouTube on July 31.
UN Provides Update on Efforts to Combat Ebola Outbreak in DRC
Global News: The UN's Ebola Emergency Response Coordinator David Gressly provided an update on the spread of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday as well as the UN's efforts to contain the outbreak.
WHO Director-General for Emergency Response Dr. Ibrahima Socé Fall
explained to reporters Thursday that the biggest obstacle to combating
the spread of Ebola virus in West Africa is misinformation.
Rapper A$AP Rocky's Lawyer Comments on Ongoing Trial
Global News: American rapper A$AP Rocky is set to testify at the Stockholm District Court today in Sweden. His lawyer Slobodan Jovicic provided an update on the trial.
Mr. Jovicic responds in English and Swedish.
JCPA Webcast: The U.S. Role in Combating Global Antisemitism
Source: The Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Update (August 2, 2:41 PM, EST)
- The event has been postponed until August 21. It will begin at the same time.
New York Cares: Legislation Signed to Create Maternal Mortality Review Board
Governor Andrew Cuomo today signed legislation (S.1819/A.3276) to
create a Maternal Mortality Review Board charged with reviewing the
cause of each maternal death in New York State and making
recommendations to the Department of Health on
strategies for preventing future deaths and improving overall health
outcomes.
Click here for the full announcement.
Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
Request for Proposals Announced to Expand Medication-Assisted Treatment for Addiction
The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (NYS OASAS) today announced the release of a Request for Proposals (RFP) to establish up to 350 new Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) slots in underserved counties throughout New York State. These new slots will be placed in areas that do not currently have OTP Services or have limited capacity. The RFP is available to view here.
“We are committed to investing in programs and services for opioid treatment and recovery across the state to help individuals and families struggling with addiction,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, Co-Chair of the State Heroin and Opioid Task Force. “This Request for Proposals will add hundreds of opioid treatment program slots, targeting underserved areas for those who need help the most. Our administration wants to ensure people have access to the support they need to lead healthy and safe lives, and continue in our efforts to combat the opioid epidemic once and for all.”
“Medication-assisted treatment is a safe and effective way to treat substance use disorders, and can be vital to achieving recovery for many people,” OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez said. “Expanding this service to underserved areas of the state gives more New Yorkers a chance to access this lifesaving treatment and succeed in their recovery from this disease.”
OASAS will award the funding to help establish these new OTP slots. The exact award amounts will be determined after feasibility studies are completed for the successful bidders. Each bidder must submit a proposal for a minimum of 100 slots per site, up to a maximum of 350 slots. Priority for awards will be given to bidders seeking to establish OTPs in counties with the highest percentage of residents seeking OTP services outside the county.
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is the use of medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a whole-patient approach to the treatment of substance use disorders. Research shows that when treating substance-use disorders, a combination of medication and behavioral therapies is most successful. MAT is clinically driven with a focus on individualized patient care.
New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369).
Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, community residence, or outpatient care can be found using the NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the NYS OASAS website.
Visit CombatAddiction.ny.gov to learn more about the warning signs of addiction, review information on how to get help, and access resources on how to facilitate conversations with loved ones and communities about addiction. For tools to use in talking to a young person about preventing alcohol or drug use, visit the state’s Talk2Prevent website.
Source: NYS OASAS
“We are committed to investing in programs and services for opioid treatment and recovery across the state to help individuals and families struggling with addiction,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, Co-Chair of the State Heroin and Opioid Task Force. “This Request for Proposals will add hundreds of opioid treatment program slots, targeting underserved areas for those who need help the most. Our administration wants to ensure people have access to the support they need to lead healthy and safe lives, and continue in our efforts to combat the opioid epidemic once and for all.”
“Medication-assisted treatment is a safe and effective way to treat substance use disorders, and can be vital to achieving recovery for many people,” OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez said. “Expanding this service to underserved areas of the state gives more New Yorkers a chance to access this lifesaving treatment and succeed in their recovery from this disease.”
OASAS will award the funding to help establish these new OTP slots. The exact award amounts will be determined after feasibility studies are completed for the successful bidders. Each bidder must submit a proposal for a minimum of 100 slots per site, up to a maximum of 350 slots. Priority for awards will be given to bidders seeking to establish OTPs in counties with the highest percentage of residents seeking OTP services outside the county.
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is the use of medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a whole-patient approach to the treatment of substance use disorders. Research shows that when treating substance-use disorders, a combination of medication and behavioral therapies is most successful. MAT is clinically driven with a focus on individualized patient care.
New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369).
Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, community residence, or outpatient care can be found using the NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the NYS OASAS website.
Visit CombatAddiction.ny.gov to learn more about the warning signs of addiction, review information on how to get help, and access resources on how to facilitate conversations with loved ones and communities about addiction. For tools to use in talking to a young person about preventing alcohol or drug use, visit the state’s Talk2Prevent website.
Source: NYS OASAS
Address Confidentiality Program Established for Victims of Sexual Offenses
Governor Andrew Cuomo signs legislation (S.5444/A.7515) allowing victims of
sexual offenses, stalking and human trafficking to participate in the
Department of State's Address Confidentiality Program.
Click here for the announcement.
Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
Celebrating Harlem Week: Performances at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine
Oyu Oro Afro Cuban Dance Company
&
Keith "The Captain" Gamble
August 3 at
2 p.m.
(Complimentary Admission)
Oyu Oro Afro-Cuban Experimental Dance Ensemble is based in New York and Santiago de Cuba, and founded by Danys "La Mora" Perez - international Afro-Cuban Folklore performer, choreographer, teacher and dance ethnologist.
The company is committed to the preservation of Afro-Cuban culture through dance, song and music. Oyu Oro, in the Yoruba Lukumi language, means 'a water lily that serves as a crown.' With this in mind, the repertoire demonstrates and honors African heritage that serves as the foundation of its work.
Oyu Oro explores traditional forms of dance that derive from the Yoruba, Congo, Carabali, Arara, and Dahomeyan cultures of West Africa; the rich Haitian influences that remain in Cuba of Tumba Francesa (proclaimed as a UNESCO Master piece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity), Vodu, Gaga, Tajona, Haitian Bembe; along with popular dances of Cuban heritage, including Rumba, Conga, Chancletas and Son.
Click here to RSVP.
Source: VozaRivers/New Heritage Theatre Group
Wednesday, July 31, 2019
Democratic Debate in Detroit, Night 2
On stage tonight: Cory Booker, Julián Castro, Kirsten Gillibrand, Michael Bennet, Andrew Yang, Bill de Blasio, Tulsi Gabbard, Jay Inslee, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris
Click here for video.
Source: CNN
A Brief History --- Xenophobia, Racism, and the Republican Party
So Trump is at it again. His most recent racist trope is that Rep.
Ilhan Omar (an elected-Representative, with a majority of the popular vote cast,
who just happens to be, literally, an African-American) "hates America." This is the Trumpian version of the Leader
Principle (otherwise know historically as the "Fuerher Princip"): "If you don't agree with
me [on policy, e.g., national health insurance; practice, e.g., how to deal
with asylum-seekers, or whatever] you are not a "true American" and "you hate
your country." This is the latest in the
Trumpian string of episodes racist /fascist rhetoric and practice that I wrote about last week (and actually
began writing about, as noted in that column, back in 2011). Although there are a few Repubs. here and
there who have taken exception at one level or another to what Trump has been
laying out there in doses of increasing intensity, most are either staying silent,
or supporting/excusing him, like the Dominionist, oh-so-principled, Mike Pence and Trump's Josef Goebbels imitator Stephen Miller did.
Well, is what Trump is doing right now anything
new? Is it a sudden violent departure
from traditional Repub. policy? Well,
no. In fact, the xenophobia part has
been in the genes of the Republican Party since its beginnings. Millard Fillmore was the 13th President
of the United Sates, and the last Whig to hold that office, succeeding to it upon
the death of Zachary Taylor. Denied his
party's Presidential nomination in 1851 he joined the American Party (otherwise
known as the "Know-Nothings") and became their Presidential candidate that year. His party was known for its violent (sometime
literally) antagonism towards the Irish (Catholic) immigrants who had been
fleeing a very poor homeland since the 1830s, a flow that only increased with
the Potato Famine in the mid-1840s.
Fillmore became one of the founders of the Republican Party and brought
his "know-nothingism" with him, where it festered over the years.
Click here for the full article.
Source: OpEdNews.com
The Queens D.A. Race Has a Winner. Here’s Why It’s Still Not Over.
Melinda Katz, the establishment favorite, was certified as the winner, but Tiffany Cabán has refused to concede.
Click here for the report.
Source: The New York Times
Former Journalists Charge NY1 Fired Them for Being Pregnant
Two former on-air journalists at NY1 charged in a new lawsuit Wednesday
that getting pregnant was a fatal career move at the 24-hour news
network.
Click here for the report.
Source: The New York Daily News
Cuomo Signs Legislation to Help Distressed Animals Left in Motor Vehicles
Click here for the announcement.
Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
Bonus Report: Legislation Signed to Keep Kids Safer in Schools