This report was published on YouTube on November 25.
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Judge Rules Former White House Lawyer McGahn Must Testify to Congress
This report was published on YouTube on November 25.
The 'Daily Horror' of Violence Against Women Displayed at Italian Hospital
FRANCE 24 English: The San Carlo Hospital in Milan thought an exhibition made up of X-rays of women attacked by men was a powerful way to observe the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. We meet the doctor behind it.
Anti-Government Protests Continue to Escalate in Iraq
Global News: Tensions between protesters and security forces escalated on Tuesday in Basra and Samawa, Iraq, as hundreds of protesters burned tires and barricaded roads leading to government offices. Anti-government protests have been increasing since October, with at least two confirmed killed by Iraqi security forces.
Carrie Lam Says They Will 'Seriously Reflect' on Election Results
This report was published on YouTube on November 25.
Global News: Hong Kong's chief executive officer Carrie Lam said on Tuesday that her
government would "seriously reflect" on the results of local elections
that saw pro-democracy candidates take control of a majority of
districts.
She said the election also showed voters wanted to express their views
to the government, and that those views are "quite diverse."
Sacha Baron Cohen Targets Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg for Spreading Lies, Hate Speech
This report was published on YouTube on November 23.
Global News: Actor and comedian Sacha Baron Cohen delivered a blistering speech against social media and internet companies on Thursday evening and accused of them spreading "hate, conspiracies and lies."
Global News: Actor and comedian Sacha Baron Cohen delivered a blistering speech against social media and internet companies on Thursday evening and accused of them spreading "hate, conspiracies and lies."
Speaking at the Anti-Defamation League's Never is Now summit in New
York, Cohen specifically pointed the finger at Facebook, Google, Twitter
and YouTube and accused the companies of pushing "absurdities to
billions of people."
He called for a "fundamental rethink of social media."
Click here for additional information.
Appeal Filed in Multi-State Lawsuit Against SALT Reform
New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and New York
Attorney General Letitia James today announced that New York,
Connecticut, Maryland and New Jersey filed a notice of appeal to the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to continue litigation
against the federal government for its unlawful and unprecedented cap on
the deduction for state and local taxes, known as SALT. This appeal
challenges a September 30, 2019 ruling by the U.S. District Court for
the Southern District of New York that rejected the states' suit, which
argues that the SALT cap is a politically motivated bid to effectively
raise property taxes in predominately Democratic states.
"The Trump administration's SALT policy is retribution politics - plain and simple," Governor Cuomo said. "New
York is already the nation's leader in sending more tax dollars to
Washington than we get back every year, and we will not allow this
administration to pick the pockets of hard-working New Yorkers to fund
tax cuts for corporations and send even more money to red states. We
will continue to fight this unconstitutional assault until it is
repealed once and for all."
"This cap has already
put a heavy burden on the hard-working, middle-class families of New
York, and, in the years ahead, it is expected to cost New York's tax
payers over $100 billion, which is why we will fight this senseless and
unconstitutional law," said Attorney General James.
"New York will not be bullied into paying more in taxes or changing its
vital public investments because of Congress and the president's
partisan choices."
Click here for the full announcement.
Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
New York Cares: Major Businesses and Organizations Will Feed Over 35,000 for Thanksgiving
New York State is partnering with Walmart, Wegmans,
the National Supermarket Association and the Community Service Society
of New York this Thanksgiving Week to help deliver meals to feed more
than 35,000 people statewide.
"Thanksgiving is an
opportunity not just to reflect on our values of gratitude and service
to others but also to act on those values," Governor Cuomo said. "This
partnership will provide thousands of families across the state with a
warm meal to enjoy. I encourage every New Yorker to take time today to
reflect and find a way that they can give back this week and throughout
the holiday season."
Click here for the full announcement.
Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
JCPA Webinar: 'How Israel’s Founding Leaders Shaped the Jewish State'
The following statement was submitted by Michael Fromm, Chair of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA).
Dear Friends,
On Thursday, November 21, JCPA held a webinar entitled, “How Israel’s Founding Leaders Shaped the Jewish State (and what we can learn from them)” featuring Dennis Ross and David Makovsky, two of JCPA’s most trusted advisors and thought leaders on Israel and the Middle East. Mr. Ross is an American diplomat who served under Presidents George H.W. Bush, Clinton and Obama, and Mr. Makovsky is the Ziegler distinguished fellow at The Washington Institute and director of the Project on Arab-Israel Relations who served as a senior advisor in the Obama Administration. They are co-authors of a new book, “Be Strong and of Good Courage: How Israel’s Most Important Leaders Shaped Its Destiny”.
At a time when the political destiny of Israel is more uncertain than at any moment since its modern founding, “Be Strong and of Good Courage” celebrates the defining generation of leaders who took on the task of safeguarding the country's future. Expertly moderated by JCPA board member Leslie Dannin Rosenthal, the webinar not only covered the authors’ portraits of four Israeli leaders – David Ben-Gurion, Menachem Begin, Yitzhak Rabin and Ariel Sharon – who made historic decisions that required bold moves to ensure the country’s success and safety, but also how lessons learned from these leaders serve as a guide for Israel’s leaders today. Topics included the current status of the Israeli elections, the recent U.S. Administration statement on the legality of settlements and the quest to preserve Israel as a Jewish democratic state at a time when the prospects for a two state solution remain ambiguous.
Feel free to share the video with fellow professionals, volunteers, and community members.
All the Best,
Harlem Shakespeare Festival Production of Othello Nominated for 3 Awards
The following announcement was submitted by VozaRivers/New Heritage Theatre Group.
Dear Friends & Supporters,
Earlier this year New Heritage
Theatre Group produced its Harlem Shakespeare Festival's all-female
Othello, which was presented by Southwest Shakespeare Company in Phoenix. The theatre company is now nominated for three BroadwayWorld Regional Awards.
The nominees are: Debra Ann Byrd, Best Actress for Othello, Natalie Andrews, Best Supporting Actress for Desdemona, and Southwest Shakespeare, Best Play for all-female Othello.
Click here for additional information and to cast a vote.
Monday, November 25, 2019
Former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg Officially Enters 2020 Presidential Race
This report was published on YouTube on November 24.
First Lady Melania Trump to Speak at the B’More Youth Summit on Opioid Awareness
On November 26, the First Lady will speak at the
B’More Youth Summit, which aims to educate and spread awareness to
students surrounding the nation’s opioid crisis.
The summit is hosted by
The Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation in partnership with the DEA 360
Campaign. It will serve as an educational platform for promoting healthy
choices and a drug-free lifestyle for high school and middle school
students in the Baltimore area.
Source: The Office of the First Lady
Roadshowing to Replace Rubber-Stamping FERC
By Ted Glick
Between mid-October and mid-November I took part with five other members of Beyond Extreme Energy—Jimmy Betts, Kendall Hale, Andy Hinz, Steve Norris and Maple Osterbrink--on two week-long road trips, each about a thousand miles of driving, from the Pennsylvania Appalachians to the Carolina lowlands and coastlands. Over the course of these trips we met with what turned out to be hundreds of local people, most of them working or taking action against FERC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, fracking, and the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure.
The first trip began in western Pennsylvania, in the Pittsburgh area, and its southernmost stop on the second trip was in Savannah, Ga., the location of the Elba Island Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) export terminal. In between we went to Doddridge County and Buckhannon, WV; Harrisonburg, Staunton and Nelson County, Va; Charlotte, Tillery, Rocky Mount, Fayetteville and Robeson County, NC; and Columbia, SC.
This was not a tour of blue state, coastal strongholds of progressive activism. Yet everywhere we went we found local fractivists and climate organizers who were hanging in there and continuing to organize and fight despite the depradations of despicable FERC and its gas industry collaborators in human rights and environmental crimes. We were inspired by the work and commitment of so many people, the organized folks who are refusing to give up and are winning some victories.
Click here for the full commentary.
Source: tedglick.com
The first trip began in western Pennsylvania, in the Pittsburgh area, and its southernmost stop on the second trip was in Savannah, Ga., the location of the Elba Island Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) export terminal. In between we went to Doddridge County and Buckhannon, WV; Harrisonburg, Staunton and Nelson County, Va; Charlotte, Tillery, Rocky Mount, Fayetteville and Robeson County, NC; and Columbia, SC.
This was not a tour of blue state, coastal strongholds of progressive activism. Yet everywhere we went we found local fractivists and climate organizers who were hanging in there and continuing to organize and fight despite the depradations of despicable FERC and its gas industry collaborators in human rights and environmental crimes. We were inspired by the work and commitment of so many people, the organized folks who are refusing to give up and are winning some victories.
Click here for the full commentary.
Source: tedglick.com
Harriet the Movie and the Harriet Tubman of History
By Alan J. Singer
I like the movie Harriet, especially the singing, but again, I also liked Wonder Woman, Black Panther, Wolverine, and Dr. Strange (but not Thor, Aquaman, or the Avengers series). Harriet the movie is about a super-hero whose superpower is that God gives her specific directions about what to do (turn left at the river).
Harriet in the movie is based on an important historical figure, but in the end, she is a movie character, not the historic Harriet Tubman. As a movie, two-thumbs up; as history, too many rotten tomatoes.
Click here for the full commentary.
Source: The New York History Blog
Governor Cuomo and National Grid Agree to Lift Moratorium
Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced an agreement with National Grid to immediately lift the current moratorium on gas service in Long Island, Queens and Brooklyn. National Grid has identified short-term supply mechanisms that will conservatively meet demand for approximately the next two years, allowing it to restore service to any customers that it had refused and grant all pending applications. National Grid will present a long-term options analysis within three months, subject to a public review process. The long-term options will be in place and functioning in Fall 2021.
To compensate customers who were adversely impacted by the moratorium, National Grid will pay a $36 million penalty. The penalty will also support new energy conservation measures and clean energy projects as directed by the Director of the New York State Division of the Budget in consultation with the Public Service Commission.
"This agreement is a victory for customers," Governor Cuomo said. "National Grid will pay a significant penalty for its failure to address the supply issue, its abuse of its customers, and the adverse economic impact they have caused. The Company is also working to address the long-term supply problem and will present options in the coming months to the people of Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island, letting them choose the best way forward for their communities. Today it was made clear that we will not allow any business - big or small - to extort New Yorkers in order to advance its own interests. I also want to thank Attorney General Tish James, Senator Parker and Assembly Member Cusick for their help in resolving this matter."
"We have worked hard to identify an innovative series of alternatives to meet growing demand. With this agreement, we will present options for long term supply solutions that ensure our customers have the service they require and desire," said John Bruckner President of National Grid New York. "With the resumption of service, providing support for those affected by the moratorium and further investments in New York's long-term clean energy future, we are demonstrating our unwavering commitment to delivering on our top priority of providing safe and reliable service."
"As winter begins, New Yorkers can rest assured that National Grid's moratorium is finally over and the thousands of homeowners and businesses denied service will be able to turn their heat on," said Attorney General Letitia James. "I am grateful that Governor Cuomo pushed National Grid to do the right thing and brought attention to this critical matter. My office launched an investigation after hearing about the profound effect the moratorium has had on individuals, small businesses, and New York's economy. We have received numerous complaints, which is why we will continue to closely monitor National Grid and service providers across the state to ensure New Yorkers are getting a fair shake."
As part of the agreement, National Grid will analyze and present viable options to address the long-term supply issue including: renewable energy sources, conservation strategies, a new pipeline, LNG facilities, CNG facilities and interoperable systems. National Grid will analyze these options over the next three months and present them to the public in an open and transparent manner through a series of public meetings in Queens, Brooklyn, Nassau, and Suffolk. These meetings will be conducted in coordination with local elected officials.
The State will work with National Grid and local communities and elected officials to identify the best available long-term option by June 2020 to allow a safe and adequate construction and transition period so the option can be in place and functioning in Fall 2021.
The State of New York will appoint a monitor to oversee National Grid's gas supply operations. The monitor will report to the State of New York and the Public Service Commission, and will be paid for by National Grid.
This agreement will serve as the basis to settle an order to show cause issued by the PSC in October commencing a penalty proceeding against National Grid for alleged violations of the Public Service Law. In October the PSC also directed the utility to immediately connect 1,157 residential and small commercial customers, and to implement an alternative supply and demand reduction plan to ensure the safety and reliability of the gas system.
If the conditions of the agreement are satisfied, the PSC will not proceed with revocation of National Grid's operating certificate. There are two additional open orders to show cause pending against National Grid by the PSC that must be resolved.
Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
The Power of the Pen: Social Network Use Prohibited in Determining Credit Worthiness of New Yorkers
Governor Andrew Cuomo today signed legislation
(S.2302/A.5294) prohibiting consumer reporting agencies and lenders from
using the credit scores of people in a consumer's social network to
determine that individual's credit worthiness.
"Basing
someone's credit score on who they know is not only an invasion of
privacy, it is a way for these agencies to unfairly target and penalize
low-income New Yorkers," Governor Cuomo said. "This law will keep these
unscrupulous agencies in check, end this unfair practice once and for
all and help ensure New Yorkers receive more fair and accurate credit
ratings."
Click here for the full announcement.
Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
Crunchtime at a Food Bank
Food Bank for New York City gears up for the hectic Thanksgiving holiday, aiming to feed millions on Turkey Day.
Click here for the report.
Source: The New York Times
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