Friday, August 23, 2019

Anthony Padilla with Make-A-Wish at VidCon 2019


This video was published on YouTube on August 15.

Make-A-Wish America: Wish kid Josh from Make-A-Wish Michigan had the best time during his wish to go to VidCon 2019. 

Josh got the chance to share his passion for creating characters while talking with one of his favorite creators, Anthony Padilla. 

Anthony gave Josh tips about creating content you’re passionate about, why he vlogs and they bonded on how they both dealt with similar challenges having illnesses as kids. They also played a game of Jenga- and Josh came out as the champ!

'May God Bless Your Journey': Volunteers Drop Water, Food and Messages of Strength for Migrants


This report was published on YouTube on August 19.

Democracy Now!: Volunteers with the humanitarian aid group No More Deaths have been venturing into the harsh Sonoran Desert for years to leave water, food and other life-saving supplies for migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. They have faced resistance from Customs and Border Patrol officers, who often destroy the aid when they find it, and No More Deaths volunteer Scott Warren currently faces federal charges for the alleged crimes of providing food, water and shelter to migrants. Democracy Now! accompanied a group of volunteers on a recent water drop where they explained their process of leaving gallons of water decorated with messages to give strength to migrants making the perilous journey.

'Fospice' Program Gives Old and Terminally Ill Shelter Dogs a Home for Their Final Days


This report was published on YouTube on August 21.

CBS News: A New York City-based group is working to ensure vulnerable dogs go to a forever home — even if it's just for the short time they have left.

45 Harlem-Connected Icons That Created a Global Impact

 Pictured is tennis legend Althea Gibson.

Click here for the report and photos. 

Source: The New York Daily News

Jews in Comedy....with Joe Dorinson



Long Island University professor and author Joe Dorinson talks about Brooklyn comedian Danny Kaye.

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Trumped, by Himself?

 

In terms of its control of the State Apparatus, the Owning Group in the United States has two major problems facing it. One is long term, the other short term. The long-term one is that, as is well-known, the demographics of the country are gradually shifting. By mid-century or so it will be majority non-"white." The short-term one, which has just become apparent to it, is Donald Trump.  

The Owning Group has clearly been aware of its long-term problem for quite some time. Although there are no guarantees in this regard, the chances that such a population would, through the electoral process, turn the nation back towards a 21st century version of the last "liberal" type of national government, a combination of the New Deal and the Great Society, would certainly increase. That would mean, among other things, that profits would go down, the ridiculous concentration of wealth in the "One Percent" would be somewhat diminished, government regulation of the economy and the environment would be increased, global warming would receive serious attention (seriously affecting the fossil fuel industry) --- that is if it would not already be too late in that regard --- the military-industrial complex would be scaled back, labor unions would be strengthened, "public spending" on a variety of programs that benefit significant sectors of the population would be undertaken, the massive, ultra-necessary investment in the national infrastructure would be undertaken, there would be some kind of national system for funding health care services, and so on and so forth. 

Nothing revolutionary here, but certainly very threatening to the Owning Group and the control that have had over the state apparatus at the Federal level and its current policies which include virtually none of the above since the time of Ronald Reagan. They have done this through the Republican Party of course. But with, to a greater or lesser extent, they have had the cooperation of the Democratic Party, taken to the Center-Right, beginning in the mid-1980s, by the Democratic Leadership Council under the leadership of Bill Clinton and Al Gore. As I pointed out some time ago, appearances to the contrary notwithstanding, Barack Obama was a DLC-er . As was, of course, Joe Biden. Their legislative record which reflects that association is well-known. 

Click here for the full article. 

Source: OpEdNews.com

Young and Old Together in Global Climate Strike


'Future Hope' Column 

By Ted Glick 

It is always encouraging when an international call for unified action on the climate crisis is put out and there’s a widespread, positive response to it at the grassroots. This has been happening periodically since the mid-2000’s, at a time when, compared to today, there wasn’t much of a popular movement on the climate issue.

Today, one month out from the Global Climate Strike beginning on September 20 and going ‘til the 27th, the situation is very different. The need for action on climate is widely accepted, even in the United States, stronghold of the enemy of a decent future, the fossil fuel industry.

The dates for this week of action were chosen to coincide with a UN Climate Summit being held on the 23rd of September in NYC. The hope is that this summit will accelerate actions to implement the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change. That agreement isn’t strong enough to solve the crisis, but there’s no question that acceleration is definitely needed given the acceleration of extreme weather events and the very real possibility that we are getting into climate tipping points territory.

In a press release posted two days ago on the https://globalclimatestrike.net website, it was reported that: ”In addition to people walking out of work to join strikes, marches and rallies, events include music concerts, mass bike rides, teach-ins, people’s assemblies, protests targeting fossil fuel companies, bike races and even a demonstration in someone’s living room!”
Unions in Europe are getting involved:

“The leadership of one of Germany’s largest unions is encouraging its over 2 million members to join the strikes. Italy’s largest union representing 5.5 million workers just announced it will mobilise its members on 27 September.”

Click here for the full article. 

Source: tedglick.com 

Leading Economist Discusses the State of the U.S. Economy


C-SPAN: Moody’s Analytics' Chief Economist Mark Zandi talked about the U.S. economic outlook amid looming recession fears.

This video may not play on certain browsers. Click here if you experience problems. 

NY Grandmother Gives Account of Conditions at US/Mexico Border


'Going to the Border and Seeing the Conditions with My Own Eyes Was Shocking'


By Rachna Daryanani


I’m a grandmother of four, but all the kids in my neighborhood in Queens, New York, seem to believe I’m their grandma, which I encourage.

In the last few years I have become aware of the rise in an attitude of “you versus me.” The “us” in U.S.A. seems to be slowly fading away, and it bothers me tremendously.

I came to the United States in 1984 from Mumbai, India, as a young mother of two, and have worked hard to thank the country of my choice for giving me the chance to better myself.

The Partition of India in 1947, one of the largest forced migrations in history, divided British-controlled India into the two independent dominions of India and Pakistan. It forced earlier generations of my family to become, as my grandma used to say, “refugees in our own country.” I grew up hearing from extended family members and friends about how they were forced to leave their homes, and everything that was familiar, in search of safety for themselves and their loved ones.

Just over a year ago, I heard about the worsening conditions at the U.S./Mexico border — families being separated, children in cages — and it traumatized me, bringing back memories of what I had seen and heard of as a child in India.

I didn’t know who to believe or what to do, and I wanted to see for myself what was going on. So I requested to join members of Grannies Respond/Abuelas Responden on their journey last summer to McAllen, Texas. I’m blessed they accepted me.

Going to the border and seeing the conditions with my own eyes was shocking. When did the American dream turn into a nightmare? How can we keep quiet and let this go on?

Since I returned, just over a year ago, from that week-long, 6,000-mile journey, I’ve tried to be as active as I can, to play my part in restoring sanity in the craziness around. I’ve always tried to include volunteer work in my routine, whether in the pediatric ward of a hospital, in a veterans home or a homeless shelter. Now, I am writing letters, making phone calls, talking to whomever will listen and joining protests.

Recently, I traveled to Homestead, Florida, where I joined protests at what was the nation’s largest location for detaining immigrant children. (While it was shut down a few weeks ago, and children were removed, the for-profit center is reportedly expected to be back in business again as early as October or November.)

I also recently volunteered, serving asylum seekers, at a bus station in New Orleans with the Grannies Respond Overground Railroad. These experiences were simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming.

In New Orleans, it was heartbreaking to see the conditions of the asylum seekers, especially the children. On the last day I was there, a young mother with a baby, just a few months old, got off the bus. Both were crying. I’ve never seen a small child cry silently. The child’s diaper was loaded. The mother was so sad, she couldn’t remove the soiled diaper as she didn’t have another to put in its place. After helping her clean the little one, she let me hold the baby so she could go relieve herself. One of the other passengers from the bus, not an asylum seeker, came up and thanked us for all we were doing. Another lady came forward and took information on how to be a volunteer, too.

At Homestead, we usually stood on ladders to watch for the kids. The minute some were sighted, we raised our hands to wave and make hearts, and we sang to them. Some of the children waved back or made heart signs with their hands, too. It was great they were happy to see us, but so, so sad that children need a sign from strangers to reassure them. Also they mainly responded only when the guards were not facing them.

Just watching the children, we were able to make out if the guard was a kind one or a disciplinarian. (Have you ever seen a group of children silently playing soccer? Not even a "yay" for a goal scored.)

The best thing that happened while I was there was when I heard that some of the Democratic presidential candidates who were in Florida for the televised debate had decided to visit the detention center in Homestead, and would bring the media with them.

While it was not easy to be present at these places, and to see what I have seen, I truly believe that to be free, we must all assume responsibility, and in a democracy, being silent about the ills of the world makes one complicit. 

Photo credit/article source: Grannies Respond/Abuelas Responden 

Ukrainian Congress Committee of America: Russia Does Not Belong in the G7

 
The following statement was submitted on August 21 by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA). 

In responding to a question raised by the media, President Donald Trump gave the wrong answer when asked if Russia should be reinstated into the group of the world’s largest advanced economies, the G7. Speaking in the Oval Office while seated alongside President Klaus Iohannis of Romania, President Trump announced that “it’s much more appropriate to have Russia in [the G7]…. I could certainly see it being the G8 again. And if somebody would make that motion, I would certainly be disposed to think about it very favorably.”

Click here to read the complete statement.

Warning Signs of a Recession


This report was published on YouTube on August 21.

Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project to Resume Construction: Canadian Minister Sohi


This report was published on YouTube on August 21.

Global News: Natural Resources Minister Amarjeet Sohi spoke Sherwood Park, Alta. about Trans Mountain's decision to resume construction on the pipeline expansion project, saying by the end of the year the company expects to have close to 4,200 workers on the job in various communities. The next steps are underway with issued directives that give contractors 30 days to mobilize equipment, hire workers, and develop work plans.

Danish PM Says Trump Cancellation Will Not Affect Cooperation


This report was published on YouTube on August 21.  

Global News: Denmark's prime minister said on Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump's cancellation of a state visit after Denmark rebuffed his interest in purchasing Greenland would not affect close relations between the two allies. 

"The cancellation of the visit doesn't change the good relationship between Denmark and the United States," Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told journalists. 

She also reaffirmed that Greenland is not for sale.

The Power of the Pen: Legislation Strengthens Protections for Minors Against Felony Sex Offenders

Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation (S2836C/A4784C) strengthening protections for minors against felony sex offenders. This prevents minors from being placed in the custody of an individual who has been convicted of rape in the first or second degree, sexual conduct against a child in the first degree or predatory sexual assault against a child. The new law specifically prohibits courts from placing a child in the custody of an adult who previously committed a felony sexual offense against them. 

Additionally, this measure prevents sex offenders from having unsupervised visits with a person who has been convicted of a felony sexual offense against the subject of the visitation order. Although courts already consider these factors in determining whether to place a child in custody of or allow unsupervised visits with an individual, this new law now mandates such a requirement.

Click here for the full announcement.

Bonus Announcement

Governor Cuomo today signed legislation (S.1872/A.220) giving the Authorities Budget Office the power to suspend local authority board members or executive staff for failure to submit any report required by public authorities law section 2800. Previously, the ABO was only permitted to make recommendations and issue public censure letters to delinquent local authorities.

Click here
for the full announcement. 


Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo 

New PARC Center Opens in the Bronx



The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (NYS OASAS) today announced the opening of the new Peer Alliance Recovery Center (PARC) in the Bronx. The facility is operated by Samaritan Daytop Village, and will offer free services and help to people who have been impacted by addiction, as well as their families. The center is being funded in part with $350,000 from the federal State Opioid Response Grant, administered by OASAS.

“We are taking an aggressive, multi-pronged approach to addressing the opioid epidemic with investments in treatment services and recovery centers,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, Co-Chair of the State Heroin and Opioid Task Force. “This new recovery center in the Bronx will provide free services and support to individuals and families struggling with addiction. The investment is part of our ongoing efforts to make sure all New Yorkers have access to high-quality treatment and services to help save lives and combat the epidemic that is plaguing our communities across the state.”

“The peer support that is available at recovery centers throughout New York State is an important part of the help we can offer people who are trying to rebuild their lives from addiction,” OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez said. “The addition of this new recovery center in the Bronx will further expand the availability of that support and help more people in the New York City area who have been affected by this disease.”

The PARC offers a variety of supports and services for people in recovery, including workshops to build life skills, health and wellness training, job training, and recreational and social activities. On-site recovery coaches will meet with people to help develop a recovery plan, and center participants will also have the opportunity to receive training on becoming a recovery coach themselves.

The Peer Alliance Recovery Center is located at 368 East 148th Street, 2nd Floor, Bronx NY 10588.

"The opioid crisis has devastated communities across the country, especially underserved areas like the Bronx,” said New York State Senator Luis R. Sepulveda. “With a lack of adequate resources or services, it is difficult to bring forth meaningful recovery to all those in need. The opening of the Peer Alliance Recovery Center here in the South Bronx is an important next step in combatting this epidemic and expanding access to the care and support needed, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact they will have."   

“As a longstanding Assembly member and resident of the South Bronx, I am please to welcome the Peer Alliance Recovery Center to my district,” said Assemblymember Carmen E. Arroyo. “Along with residents of this community I am all too familiar with the opioid crisis plaguing our neighborhoods every day. This center would provide much needed assistance in the ongoing fight to eradicate poverty and drug abuse from our borough.”

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 here or through the NYS OASAS website. Click here 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

Happening in Harlem: Exploring the Dynamics of Gentrification

Click on the flier to increase its size. 

Source: VozaRivers/New Heritage Theatre Group

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Oregon Officials Want to Investigate Newspaper Reporters for Reporting

 
County officials are suggesting that Malheur Enterprise journalists committed crimes by making phone calls and sending emails “after hours.”

Click here for the report.

Source: The Huffington Post 

The Power of the Pen: Employment Non-Discrimination Protections Expanded for New York's Domestic Violence Victims

Governor Andrew Cuomo today signed legislation (A5618/S1040) expanding employment nondiscrimination protections for victims of domestic violence. This measure implements changes in the employment provisions of the Human Rights Law to include victims of domestic violence as a protected class, expanding protections for victims of domestic violence and strengthening New York's nation-leading support for domestic violence victims.

"Victims of domestic violence are forced to deal with far-reaching, lasting ramifications that can understandably interfere with their work schedules," Governor Cuomo said. "By signing this measure into law we are strengthening our nation-leading domestic violence protection laws and ensuring survivors never have to fear losing their job as they deal with the aftermath of these unthinkable traumas."

Click here for the full announcement.

Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

Southern Poverty Law Center Official: 'I’m Not a Pedophile. I’m Gay.'


Yes, the FRC and ADF Are Hate Groups. Here’s Why!

By Erik Olvera

I was in love, about to be married, and never could have imagined that my life would soon be intertwined with an unimaginable amount of hate from strangers who wanted to tear apart everything I held dear.

You’re a pedophile, they said.

You’re a danger, they said.

You’re a pervert, they said.

You need to be stopped, they said.

It was 2008, and a California court had just cleared the way for LGBTQ people, like Jeff and me, to marry — a move that prompted the Family Research Council (FRC) to further spread its anti-LGBTQ hatred and lies.

I knew about the organization, along with the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), then known as the Alliance Defense Fund, but didn’t realize the extent of their LGBTQ hatred or how deeply it had already infiltrated the mainstream until later that year when — amid their cries that LGBTQ people were destroying their values — California’s Proposition 8 passed and stopped marriage equality in the state.

That’s the year I learned that their hate can look like your neighbors who leave anti-LGBTQ fliers under your door, family members who leave the Christmas dinner table when you sit down, business owners who use their religious beliefs to kick you out, strangers who loudly say “fa--ots” before staring you down as you walk by, and death threats mailed to your office.

The FRC and ADF are now attempting to shift the narrative away from their history of hurting the LGBTQ community and doing more to divide families with LGBTQ family members than unite them. This weekend, a former FRC staffer, who currently works for the ADF, wrote an op-ed published in USA Today in which she defends the anti-LGBTQ organizations from the Southern Poverty Law Center’s hate group designations and insists that the SPLC is the real danger.

Let me be clear: The FRC and ADF are indeed hate groups. We define a hate group as an organization that, based on its official activities, beliefs, statements, principles or practices, attacks or maligns an entire class of people, typically for their immutable characteristics.

The FRC, for instance, continues to push its false narrative that gay men are pedophiles and that the LGBTQ community is attempting to indoctrinate children through projects like the “It Gets Better” campaign, saying “it’s part of a concerted effort to persuade kids that homosexuality is okay and actually to recruit them into that lifestyle.” Meanwhile, the ADF is pushing an anti-transgender agenda and has recently supported the criminalization of LGBTQ people.

The organizations on our hate group list vilify others because of their race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity — prejudices that strike at the heart of our democratic values and fracture society along its most fragile fault lines.

The op-ed writer attempts to dismiss the FRC’s and ADF’s attacks on the LGBTQ community by pointing to news stories about the SPLC, but there’s no excusing their vitriol and no justification for their hate that’s impacted millions nationwide.

Our work, especially our commitment and dedication to the communities we serve, has never been deterred, and it will keep driving us as we continue to look forward to truly model the change we want to see in the world.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed marriage equality nationwide in 2015, I’ve increasingly heard leaders from anti-LGBTQ organizations like the FRC vilify the LGBTQ community.

I’ve heard them call LGBTQ people like me names. And I’ve heard those names echoed online and in the streets.

I’m not a pedophile. I’m gay.

I’m not a danger. I’m a pacifist.

I’m not a pervert. I’m a husband, a son, a brother, an uncle, a friend.

I’m not a terrorist. I simply want to live free from someone else’s hate.

Their attacks normalize attacks.

And that’s neither an SPLC value nor mine.

Erik Olvera serves as chief communications officer at the Southern Poverty Law Center. 

The GGE Update: YWAC and SIS Applications Available on 8/23

 
The following announcement was submitted by Girls for Gender Equity (GGE)

YWAC is a forum where young transgender and cisgender women and gender non-conforming youth of color between the ages of 16-24 come together in community to support and honor all lived experiences.

YWAC members engage in youth organizing and civic engagement strategies to push for transformative change. They identify important issues impacting young people of color and their communities, build siblinghood with their peers, and develop their own agency. They also gain core skills to enact effective and transformational change.

Young people are provided metrocards and stipends as well as one-on-one check-ins for communal and individual support.
 

GGE has partnered with the Me Too movement and Firecracker Foundation to drive an inaugural series of youth-centered survivor circles to serve as a place to heal from sexual violence, learn advocacy skills, and experience joy.

Sisters in Strength (SIS) holds space for cis and trans girls and gender non-conforming youth of color between the ages of 15-18 years old. SIS provides space for survivor-centered healing justice approaches in the movement to end gender based violence, sexual violence and child sexual assault. Members share a vision for ending violence, building sisterhood/siblinghood, engaging in healing tools, and a willingness to advocate for change.

Young people are provided Metrocards and stipends as well as one-on-one check-ins for communal and individual support.

Tell the young people in your life to mark their calendars! 

Recruitment for the listed programs opens  August 23 and runs through September 23. 


To learn more about our programs and hear from alumni on their experiences, join us at our Program Open House on September 16th! 

The event will be held in Suite 1006, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at 25 Chapel Street in Brooklyn, New York.

Legislation Signed Waiving Marriage License Fees for Active Duty Members of the Armed Forces


Governor Andrew Cuomo today signed legislation (S.3756/A.55) waiving the state fee for marriage licenses for active duty members of the U.S. armed forces or their spouses. The bill also gives local governments freedom to waive the fees they charge for marriage certificates for active duty service members or spouses.

"These brave men and women leave their loved ones behind and risk their lives to protect the freedoms and values that this nation and this state were founded upon," Governor Cuomo said. "Waiving this fee is one small way to thank these valiant New Yorkers for their service."

Senator Shelley B. Mayer said, "I am glad to sponsor this bill to provide a well-deserved benefit to the many men and women in uniform who serve our country with great pride. S.3756 removes the state 'marriage fee' for active duty military members wishing to marry in New York State and allows local municipalities to do the same. This new law is just one of the ways we express our deep gratitude to active duty military service members for their continued sacrifices and service. Thank you to Governor Andrew Cuomo for signing the bill into law."

Assembly Member David Buchwald said, "On the happy occasions when a member of our armed forces gets married in New York, we as a society should be doing everything we can to say thank you and congratulations. This is but a small gesture to show our gratitude to the men and women who protect our freedoms every day. I thank Governor Cuomo for signing this bill that will help these newlyweds, and I urge local governments to use their new authority under this law to likewise waive their local marriage license fees."

Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

FPWA Awards Over $20K in College Scholarships to Students Across New York City

 
(New York, NY) – On Monday, August 19, FPWA presented 12 college students from across New York City with a $2,000 scholarship at FPWA’s annual College Scholarship awards breakfast. The event, which was held at FPWA’s headquarters in Lower Manhattan, honors junior and senior-year college students who demonstrate financial need and have academically excelled despite significant personal adversity.

“Almost all of us in this room talked about facing and overcoming poverty,” said FPWA Director of Programs Aleciah Anthony. “We heard from single parents, from individuals who lost their parents, from individuals who lived in foster care. Those circumstances do not come to you in isolation. We should feel united, not only in our adversity, but how we overcome those adversities. What’s more important is that you own the challenges and experiences that have led you here. We should not look at those experiences in shame or guilt because those experiences will shape, not only who you are, but who you are to become.”

All the award recipients demonstrate sheer determination to advance their education. Many of the students selected for the scholarship are paying for college with loans and financial resources independent of their parent(s), some grew up in the foster care system, others are juggling school and work as new mothers and fathers. They have become leaders in their communities. Their areas of study range from Political Science, Economics, and Environmental Science to Film & TV Production, Coastal Environmental Studies, and Human Biology. 

“Access to higher education is one of the key pathways to economic equity,” said Chief Program and Policy Officer Emily Miles. “Everyone should have access to the same opportunities that anyone in the world does. In this room, we have future social workers, engineers, pharmacists, scientists, and leaders. It’s important to note that nobody ever makes it on their own. We make it because of the support of our families, of our communities, and of the organizations and programs that we are a part of. At FPWA, we are proud to be joining the community supporting our college scholarship recipients.”

FPWA has awarded scholarships to New York’s college juniors and seniors experiencing challenging circumstances for more than 30 years. Upperclassmen often have fewer opportunities for scholarships than freshman and sophomore students despite their significant need. Students were recommended for the scholarship by FPWA’s network of community-based member agencies. This year’s scholarship awards will help contribute to tuition, books, healthcare coverage, and studying abroad.

Students who received the awards attend the following colleges: Albright College, Baruch College, CUNY Lehman College, Long Island University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mercy College, New York University, SUNY Albany, SUNY University at Buffalo, Queens College CUNY, University of Virginia and Stony Brook University. 

The FPWA college scholarships are funded by the The New York Times Neediest Cases.
 
Source: Mercury

Ballyhoo Media CEO Responds to Cuomo Signing of SB 6541


Statement from Adam Shapiro 

(New York, NY) - "We are very disappointed that Governor Cuomo has signed SB 6541, but we remain undeterred. Our legal team believes the changes to the Navigation Law does not prohibit us from operating in state waters. Instead it has only offered more clarity on what we can and cannot display with our new platform. As such, Ballyhoo intends to continue providing an innovative platform that encourages creativity, collaboration, and community”

Source: Mercury

The Backstory

PBA Executive Board Advancing a Resolution of No Confidence in Commissioner O'Neill and Mayor de Blasio


The following was submitted to From The G-Man by a source within the New York City Police Department. 

ALERT: PANTALEO FIRED — Guidance for All PBA Members on Arrests & Use of Force

Dear PBA Member:

I am writing to inform you that Police Commissioner James O’Neill has adopted the NYPD Trial Commissioner’s recommendation in the case of P.O. Daniel Pantaleo (120 Pct).  P.O. Pantaleo has been found guilty of reckless assault and has been terminated by the Department, effective immediately.

P.O. Pantaleo indicates that he will pursue a legal challenge of this arbitrary, capricious and blatantly political decision. The PBA will continue its representation and public support of P.O. Pantaleo throughout that process.

The PBA Executive Board is also advancing a Resolution of No Confidence in both Police Commissioner O’Neill and Mayor de Blasio, which will be put to a vote of the PBA Delegate body.

In the meantime, however, every New York City police officer must understand that this unprecedented decision has fundamentally changed the nature of our job.  Commissioner O’Neill has opened the door for politicians to dictate the outcome of every single NYPD disciplinary proceeding, without any regard for the facts of the case or the due process rights of MOS.

Be advised that neither your Police Academy training nor the current Patrol Guide procedures reflect the precedent established by this decision.

Unless and until the Department provides updated guidance on how police officers are expected to do our job without any expectation of due process, all PBA members are advised to utilize the discretion afforded by current Department procedures to protect themselves from unwarranted discipline and legal liability:

For jobs not assigned to your unit, respond as backup on all crimes in progress, EDP jobs, and any past crimes where the alleged perpetrator remains on the scene.

For every job involving a possible arrest situation, immediately request response by patrol supervisor and additional members to help control situation, pursuant to P.G. 221-02, “Use of Force.”

Await the patrol supervisor’s arrival before attempting to effect an arrest, except when immediate action is necessary to protect life and personal safety of all persons present (see P.G. 221-02).

Prior to effecting an arrest, confer with the patrol supervisor. Document in your memo book all instructions received from the patrol supervisor or other supervisors at the scene.

Utilize your cameras to document the entirety of every encounter, in accordance with Department procedures.

Before making any physical contact with a prisoner, inform him or her of the authority and cause for the arrest pursuant to P.G. 208-02 and request that he or she place hands behind the back for rear cuffing.

If the prisoner does not comply with repeated requests to place his or her hands behind the back, refer to procedures contained in P.G. 208-02 for handling of an irrational/violent arrestee:

Immediately request response of patrol supervisor (if not already present) and the Emergency Service Unit.

Attempt to isolate and contain the suspect.

Institute emotionally disturbed person procedures contained in P.G. 221-13, “Mentally Ill or Emotionally Disturbed Persons.”

When any level of physical force is used, immediately request a response from Emergency Medical Service (EMS) pursuant to P.G. 210-04, “Prisoners Requiring Medical/Psychiatric Treatment.” Do not transport the prisoner until he or she has been evaluated by EMS personnel.

For every incident in which a prisoner does not voluntarily submit to arrest, or any other circumstance in which an MOS makes physical contact with a member of the public, ensure that a THREAT, RESISTANCE OR INJURY (T.R.I.) INCIDENT WORKSHEET (PD112-145) is completed as promptly as possible (e.g., before the end of your tour, on overtime if necessary).

Contact your PBA Delegate to request an attorney if you need legal representation following any incident.  Do not discuss any details of the incident with any party until your attorney is present.

As we continue to fight this travesty of justice, we must remain united to protect each other from the toxic political environment in which we are forced to work. There is no doubt that New York City police officers will continue to uphold our oath and protect our city from crime and disorder.  But we cannot and will not achieve that goal by needlessly jeopardizing our careers or personal safety.

Fraternally,

Patrick J. Lynch
President

Hong Kong's Carrie Lam Holds Weekly News Conference Amid Ongoing Protests


Coverage will be streamed live on this site at 9:30 p.m. (EST) via Global News.

‘I Can Still Smell Him’: For 4 Legislators, the Child Victims Act Is Personal


Sexually abused as children, four Albany lawmakers told their own stories to raise awareness about the law.

Click here for the report.

Source: The New York Times 

Happening in Harlem: Soul Train Tribute to Aretha Franklin, Screening of 'Amazing Grace'


Volunteers Wanted in Effort Break the Guiness Record for Longest Soul Train Line

Click here to register as a volunteer or dancer.

Call (212) 340-1847 for information on the screening.

Source: ImageNation

A Special Screening in Brooklyn: 'Say Amen, Somebody'


Say Amen, Somebody is one of the most acclaimed music documentaries of all time. This joyous, funny, deeply emotional celebration of African American culture, features the father of Gospel, Thomas A. Dorsey ("Precious Lord, Take My Hand"); its matron, Mother Willie Mae Ford Smith; and earth-shaking performances by the Barrett Sisters and the O'Neal Twins

When it was first released in the early 1980s, the film received an overwhelming critical response, garnering rave reviews around the world. 

Unseen in cinemas for nearly 30 years, Say Amen, Somebody has been  restored to 4K by Milestone with support from the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Academy Film Archive. The new restoration features a restored 5.1 soundtrack. 

Click here to register. 

Source: ImageNation