Thursday, January 9, 2020

Bloomberg Campaign Plants a Flag in Harlem

 
Former New York City mayor-turned presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg has signed a six month lease for a campaign field office in Harlem.

Bloomie, who threw his hat in the ring last November billing himself a “doer and a problem solver” has leased a 3,500 square foot retail space at the base of Harlem 125, a mixed use apartment building at 69 East 125th Street .

Built by Greystone Property Development in 2017, Harlem 125 is a two-building rental comprised of a seven-story tower fronting 126th Street and a 12-story tower on 125th Street. It has 74 studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units, 15 of which are affordable housing.

Click here for the full report. 

Source: Real Estate Weekly

The Rising Suicide Rates Among Black Youth


Bryce Gowdy, a high school football superstar, died on Dec. 30 shortly after 4 a.m. in Deerfield Beach, about 17 miles north of Fort Lauderdale. The medical examiner’s office ruled the death a suicide.

Click here for the report. 

Source: NBC News

Pelosi Says She'll Send Impeachment Articles to Senate 'Soon'


CBS News: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she is not withholding articles of impeachment "indefinitely" and will probably transmit them to the Senate "soon." But she reiterated her demand that Republicans lay out the rules for the proceedings before she does so. She spoke at her weekly press conference on Capitol Hill on Thursday.


House Minority Leader McCarthy Holds
Weekly News Conference Amid Iran Tensions

Suspense of Brexit Disappears as British MPs Prepare to Approve Terms of the UK's Exit


FRANCE 24 English: After many discussions and debates, the Brexit bill will finally be passed through on January 31. Chief Foreign Editor Robert Parsons explains the next steps.

Trudeau 'Wants Answers' After Sources Indicate Iran Missile Brought Down Plane


The Prime Minister's statement, which was delivered in French and English, begins at the 52-minute mark. 

Global News: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is calling for a thorough investigation after an Iran plane crash that claimed the lives of dozens of Canadians and others headed to Canada was believed to have been caused by an Iranian missile.

The Prime Minister held a news conference in Ottawa to brief the public Speaking to reporters in Ottawa Thursday and outlined what steps his government would be taking following the revelation that evidence indicated the plane was "shot down" by an Iranian missile.

“We have intelligence from multiple sources including our allies and our own intelligence that indicates the plane was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile,” he said.

Canadian Troops Move Out of Iraq to Kuwait Amid Iran-U.S. Tensions


Global News: Some Canadian Armed Forces troops have moved out of Iraq and have temporarily gone to Kuwait for their safety, according to Chief of Defence Staff Jonathan Vance.

The move, which Vance announced in an open letter to the families of Canadian soldiers in Iraq that was posted to Twitter, follows the lead of Germany and several other allies who have withdrawn some of their troops.

Canada has about 500 soldiers in Iraq, most of whom are there to help train local forces to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, including about 200 with a NATO mission in the south of the country and upwards of 200 special-forces soldiers in the north.

Global's Stewart Bell reports in Kuwait City.

New York Alert: Flu-Associated Hospitalizations Climb


As the number of laboratory-confirmed flu cases and flu-related hospitalizations continue their steady increase statewide, Governor Andrew Cuomo today directed the New York State Department of Health to take additional steps to ensure healthcare facilities are prepared for the remainder of the flu season.  The Governor directed the Department to begin enhanced monitoring of hospitals through the Health Emergency Response Data System to ensure hospitals have the capacity, guidance and resources necessary to combat the recent surge in hospitalizations.  

"As the numbers of flu cases and flu hospitalizations continue to rise, I've directed the Department of Health to use every tool at its disposal to make sure our healthcare system remains prepared for an influx of patients," Governor Cuomo said. "While providers are taking extra steps in response to the uptick in the flu season, New Yorkers can still protect themselves and others by getting a flu shot."

Click here for the full announcement. 

Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo   

Americans Against Antisemitism Announces New National Director

 Bryan E. Leib

New York, NY - In light of the major increase in antisemitic attacks and the rapid growth of Americans Against Antisemitism, Bryan E. Leib, formerly of the Israeli-American Council and a 2018 Congressional Candidate for Philadelphia, PA, is joining the team as National Director. He’ll be taking charge of overseeing our national expansion with the development and organization of regional chapters, recruiting new members and volunteers, board development, and forging ties with institutional partners from across the faith spectrum. As a board member of the Young Friends of the National Museum of American Jewish History and the prestigious JNF- USA Speakers Bureau, Bryan brings unique and relevant experience to his new role. Bryan will report to Israel Bitton, AAA's Executive Director. Within the next 45 days, AAA will be announcing new regional chapters throughout the country and several groundbreaking initiatives to fight anti-Semitism in America.

“I am honored and very excited to be joining the team as National Director at Americans Against Antisemitism, an organization that has quickly become indispensable during these challenging times,” said Leib. “There is so much work to be done, so many great people to work with, and yet so little time to act and make a difference. The time for talking has ended, it's time to act and I’m proud to have a stake in the fight for the very future and security of American Jewry.”

"I am excited to tap Bryan to lead our national expansion plans. His passion and dedication for Jewish advocacy is a perfect fit for AAA. Bryan has spent his entire life fighting on the front lines for the Jewish people so I can think of no one better to help take AAA nationwide!" said Dov Hikind, Founder of Americans Against Antisemitism.

Source: Americans Against Antisemitism

Trump Addresses the Nation After Iranian Missile Attack


CBS News: President Trump is set to address the nation at the White House on Wednesday morning, his first public remarks after Iran launched ballistic missiles at military bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq. There are currently no reports of casualties.

Carlos Ghosn Speaks After Fleeing Financial Misconduct Charges in Japan


The Full Address

Global News: Former Nissan Motor Co Chairman Carlos Ghosn is expected to speak to reporters in Beirut, Lebanon, on Wednesday at 8 a.m. after he fled Japan last week while awaiting trial on financial misconduct charges.

Ukraine Airlines Plane Crashes in Iran


WION: According to reports, a Ukraine International Airlines flight carrying 180 passengers has crashed soon after it took off from Iran’s Imam Khomeini airport on Wednesday (January 8).

Dept of Defense Statement on Iranian Ballistic Missile Attacks in Iraq


Statement from Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Jonathan Hoffman:

At approximately 5:30 p.m. (EST) on January 7, Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against U.S. military and coalition forces in Iraq.  It is clear that these missiles were launched from Iran and targeted at least two Iraqi military bases hosting U.S. military and coalition personnel at Al-Assad and Irbil. 

We are working on initial battle damage assessments.

In recent days and in response to Iranian threats and actions, the Department of Defense has taken all appropriate measures to safeguard our personnel and partners. These bases have been on high alert due to indications that the Iranian regime planned to attack our forces and interests in the region.

As we evaluate the situation and our response, we will take all necessary measures to protect and defend U.S. personnel, partners, and allies in the region.

Due to the dynamic nature of the situation, we will continue to provide updates as they become available. 

Source: DOD 

Video Released by Iran State Media Allegedly Shows Rockets Being Fired at U.S. Iraqi Airbase


Global News: Video distributed by Iran State Media online and on social media purports to show rockets being fired into the night sky hours after the funeral for Iranian Gen. Qassam Soleimani. Global News has not independently verified this video. The Pentagon has confirmed ballistic missiles fired from inside Iran were targeted at multiple U.S. military bases in Iraq on early Wednesday morning.

Trump Transactionalism Writ Large: The Soleimani Assassination and the Letter 'U'

Gen. Qassem Soleimani

By Steven Jonas

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President . . . is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or anyone else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about anyone else."


Theodore Roosevelt, Editorial in The Kansas City Star May 7, 1918

In brief, after an analysis of the all the information publicly available at the present time, and a review of all the indications that it was (to say the least)) apparently done with no planning, no foresight, and no consideration of all the possible negative outcomes, given by a wide variety of authorities through the media to date (other than his "Trump-can-do-no-wrong" allies), it seems that the assassination of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, Commander of the Iranian Quds Force, was ordered by President Trump for just one reason. A word that begins with the letter "U." To which we shall come at the end of this missive.

"Assassination" is a word believed to be derived from Arabic that means "poltical murder." Now Trump may think that the Iranians speak Arabic. For after all, in an interview with Hugh Hewitt (no lefty he) in 2015, after he had declared for the Presidency, Trump did not know the difference between "Quds" (as in the Iranian Quds Force) and "Kurds." Then when Hewitt pressed him a bit, Trump went on the attack against Hewitt for trying to "run a quiz show." (Hewitt has since become a strong Trump supporter.) Trump may also not know (randomly) that Iran is not an Arab country; that they have a language of their own, Farsi; that they have a history of civilized settlements going back over 8000 years; that they had a revolution in 1952 that among other things nationalized what is now British Petroleum that was overthrown by the CIA under the leadership of Kermit Roosevelt, Jr. (a grandson of Teddy's); and that when the U.S. first invaded Afghanistan following the 9/11 Disaster, Iran offered to help control the Taliban in Western Afghanistan but was turned down by Pres. G.W. Bush. 

Click here for the full article.

Source: OpEdNews  

NATO Calls for 'Restraint and De-Escalation' Amid Tensions Between U.S., Iran


Global News: NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday that all members of the Atlantic alliance stood behind the United States in the Middle East, after a U.S. drone strike killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani. 

Stoltenberg urged both sides to pursue a path of de-escalation but insisted it was still the position of the NATO member countries that Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon.

NYS Dept of State Announces New Executive Director of Committee on Open Government

 
Secretary of State Rossana Rosado today announced the appointment of Shoshanah Bewlay as Executive Director of the New York State Committee on Open Government. After an extensive search by the Committee on Open Government, Ms. Bewlay was selected for her wide range of experience and depth of knowledge regarding the Freedom of Information, Open Meetings and Personal Privacy Protection Laws.

“With more than 20 years of broad experience in both the public and private sectors, Ms. Bewlay will be an asset to the Committee on Open Government,” said Secretary of State Rosado. “We are fortunate that Ms. Bewlay is bringing her robust expertise to this role to continue to enhance and educate New Yorkers about transparency within our government. Thank you to Kristin O’Neill and the Committee for their exceptional work over the past several months during this transition period.”

Committee on Open Government Executive Director Shoshanah Bewlay said, “It is an honor to be selected by Governor Cuomo and the Committee on Open Government to serve as the next Executive Director. Open and transparent government is a priority of Governor Cuomo and I look forward to working with the Committee to continue to highlight the importance of the Freedom of Information, Open Meetings and Personal Privacy Protection Laws.”

Ms. Bewlay previously served as the General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer at the NYS Office of Information Technology Services, where she oversaw the agency’s legal department, providing advice and guidance on legal and regulatory compliance, information security and data breach response, legal and technical eDiscovery compliance for the New York State executive agencies, New York State IT policy and strategy alignment, IT procurement and contracting, and New York State public ethics. Prior to serving as the General Counsel, Ms. Bewlay served as the agency’s Records Access Officer and Personal Privacy Protection Officer.

Ms. Bewlay joined ITS in 2014 after seven years with the NYS Office of the Attorney General, where she managed that Office’s eDiscovery program. Prior to joining the Office of the Attorney General, Ms. Bewlay had more than 10 years of private practice experience in New York City and San Francisco, in which she specialized in the defense of large corporations in securities and tender offer litigation. Ms. Bewlay is a member of the New York, Connecticut and California State Bars and is a graduate of Vassar College and the University of Connecticut School of Law.

The Committee on Open Government, housed in the Department of State, oversees and advises the government, public, and news media on Freedom of Information, Open Meetings, and Personal Privacy Protection Laws. The Committee offers guidance in response to phone inquiries, prepares written legal advisory opinions, and provides training to government and other interested groups. Recommendations to improve open government laws are offered in an annual report to Governor and the State Legislature.

For more information on the Committee on Open Government, visit the Department of State website at https://www.dos.ny.gov/coog/index.html

Source: NYS Department of State

Sunday, January 5, 2020

From the News Vault: General Wesley Clark Talks About America's Plan to Destabilize the Middle East


This video was published on YouTube on November 5, 2007. 

FORAtv: Retired four-star general and former Democratic Presidential candidate Wesley Clark criticizes the course of U.S. foreign policy in the wake of September 11, 2001. 

Wesley Clark is a retired four-star general of the United States Army. Clark was valedictorian of his class at West Point, was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford where he earned a master's degree in economics, and later graduated from the Command and General Staff College with a master's degree in military science. He spent 34 years in the Army and the Department of Defense, receiving many military decorations, several honorary knighthoods, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Former National Security Adviser Susan Rice: The Dire Consequences of Trump’s Suleimani Decision

 
One thing is clear after the killing of Iran’s second most important official: Americans are not safer.

Click here to read the commentary. 

Source: The New York Times

Petraeus Says U.S. Had 'Lost the Element of Deterrence' Before Soleimani Strike


CBS News: Retired General David Petraeus says multiple Iranian attacks had gone largely unanswered in the months before the U.S. strike that took out Qassem Soleimani, a senior Iranian military commander.

Body of Soleimani Returns Home to Iran


Global News: Tens of thousands of mourners accompanied a casket carrying the remains of the slain Gen. Qassem Soleimani through two major Iranian cities Sunday as part of a grand funeral procession across the Islamic Republic for the commander killed by an American drone strike amid soaring tensions between Iran and the U.S. 

President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb 52 sites in Iran if it retaliates by attacking Americans. The U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia separately warned Americans “of the heightened risk of missile and drone attacks.” Meanwhile, Iran vowed to take an even-greater step away from its unraveling nuclear deal with world powers as a response to Soleimani’s slaying.

Click here for additional information. 

Governor Cuomo Makes an Announcement at the No Fear, No Hate Solidarity March in New York City


Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced an additional $45 million in funding is available to help protect New York's religious-based institutions, including non-public schools and cultural centers, against hate crimes.