Friday, January 31, 2020

Christian Values, Trump and the Race for the White House


THE G-MAN INTERVIEWS: ARCHBISHOP MARY FLOYD PALMER

Will Division Within the Religious Community
Significantly Impact the 2020 Presidential Election?

On January 2 of this year, the New York Daily News reported that Mark Galli, the editor of Christianity Today, resigned from his position after high-ranking church officials and members of the Christian community denounced an anti-Trump editorial written by Galli and published in the magazine. 

According to the report, “The former Presbyterian pastor became a lightning rod in political circles on Dec. 19 when he published the scathing editorial stating that President Trump should be removed from office.” The article also noted that the magazine’s website crashed as a result of the controversial article.

On December 24th, Newsmax reported the following: “One of the editors at The Christian Post late Monday announced his resignation after the publication posted an editorial that he said "positions them on Team Trump."

"Today, rather abruptly, I was forced to make the difficult choice to leave The Christian Post. They decided to publish an editorial that positions them on Team Trump," tweeted Napp Nazworth in a series of tweets about his decision to step down, reports The Hill.

Here to discuss the controversy, the division that it’s caused in the Christian community, and how it could significantly impact the 2020 presidential election is Archbishop Mary Floyd Palmer. In March of 2019, the beloved and outspoken archbishop made history when she became the first female presiding archbishop installed as the president of the Philadelphia Council of Clergy, and the first African-American female archbishop in America.

The interview was conducted and recorded on January 29. 

Thursday, January 30, 2020

Happening in Harlem: The Peace Cafe to Honor Kobe Bryant


January 31 at 8 P.M. 

Community residents are invited to attend and share their thoughts on the legacy and life of the basketball icon. Artists are also invited to pay homage to Bryant through special performances.

The Peace Cafe is located at 233 West 140th Street. Call (212) 694-8759 for additional information. 

Source: Street Corner Resources

South Dakota House Approves Bill That Would Jail Doctors For Treating Transgender Youth


The Huffington Post: LGBTQ groups have blasted House Bill 1057, which would make it a misdemeanor for physicians to offer gender confirmation surgery to patients under 16.

Click here for the report. 

Governor Cuomo Delivers Remarks at the Inaugural 'No Hate in Our State' Conference


The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo: Following his trip to Poland where he attended events commemorating the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, Governor Cuomo today proposed as part of his FY 2021 Executive Budget an additional $25 million in security grant funding for organizations vulnerable to hate crimes. 

The governor also proposed expanding eligibility for these security grants to include houses of worship. The governor made these announcements today at the inaugural "No Hate In Our State" security grants conference at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, where he convened over 600 community leaders and clergy as well as state public safety officials and security experts to discuss best practices to keep communities safe and access grant funding.

Coronavirus in New York: Lunar New Year Events Canceled Over Fears


The New York Times: No confirmed case of the virus has been found in the state. But anxiety is growing in New York City’s Chinese community. 

Click here for the report.

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

What the El Mozote Massacre Can Teach Us About Trump’s War on the Press

 
The Intercept_: A retired Air Force general in El Salvador admitted in court last Friday that the country’s armed forces carried out the infamous El Mozote massacre in December 1981. This acknowledgement marks the first time the Salvadoran military has taken responsibility for the atrocity.

Over a period of days, the Atlacatl Battalion, a Salvadoran army unit created and trained by the U.S., slaughtered more than 800 civilian men, women, and children in several villages in the mountains near El Salvador’s border with Honduras. The Reagan administration immediately acted to protect its Salvadoran allies, engaging in a far-reaching coverup.

Click here for the report. 

Webinar: Jewish Council for Public Affairs to Host 'Understanding the Trump Peace Plan'


Implications for Regional Peace and Stability
(January 29, 3:00 PM Eastern)

David Makovsky, Ziegler Distinguished Fellow and Director, Project on Arab-Israel Relations at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, will be the featured speaker.
 
What the webinar will focus on: President Trump’s long awaited peace plan has been finally unveiled. The plan reportedly differs substantially from previous efforts to reach a peace deal between the parties. With changing power dynamics in the Middle East, will this plan bring the parties together, as some suggest, or further alienate them, as others assert? Will it reset the long term expectations of what is required from the parties to achieve peace?

Click here to register. 

The Latest Polling Data for the Iowa Democratic Presidential Caucus

Click here to track the results for the upcoming caucus and other states. 

Source: RealClearPolitics

U.S. Military Recovers Remains from Afghanistan Plane Crash

 
Reuters: The United States on Tuesday recovered the remains of two personnel from a U.S. military aircraft that crashed in Afghanistan, U.S. and Afghan officials told Reuters on Tuesday.

Click here for the report. 

From The G-Man has posted the following video in honor of those who perished in the crash. May they forever rest in peace.

Trump Mideast Peace Plan: 'All is About the Arab League Ambassadors in the Room'



FRANCE 24 English: Editor-in-Chief Gil Mihaely stresses that there are no Palestinians around the negotiating table as 'they are boycotting the US' and 'rejected the plan' despite the presence of three Arab League Ambassadors in Washington DC when President Trump revealed his peace plan. He adds the situation between Irael and Palestine is still very delicate as it depends on the 'super power behind and who is stronger', meaning the Russians and the United States.

French Police Clash with Striking Firefighters in Paris (Full Coverage)


Global News: French firefighters clashed with the police as they demonstrated in the streets of Paris against working conditions and the government’s pensions reform bill.

Governor Cuomo Statement on Supreme Court Decision on Public Charge Rule

 
"The Supreme Court's decision allowing the Trump administration to begin implementing its discriminatory public charge rule is deeply disturbing and will only further embolden the federal government's relentless assault on immigrants throughout the country.

"The Trump administration has mounted a cruel and sustained attack on immigrant communities across the United States, and this rule is a continuation of that callous trend. The public charge rule was clearly crafted to target low-income immigrants of color, punishing them for being poor by denying them entry into our country and forcing those already here to choose between access to important public services and their ability to pursue a green card in the future. We are a nation of immigrants, and it is abhorrent to our values as Americans and as New Yorkers to discourage those who are most in need from seeking refuge and assistance on our shores.

"In New York, we will always stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our immigrant neighbors and community members, offering support and continuing to fight the Trump administration's assaults at every turn. We will ensure that New York remains a beacon of hope and acceptance for all."

Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo 

New York Braces for Coronavirus: ‘It’s Inevitable’


The New York Times: In Queens, some who recently returned from China have even self-quarantined. But officials have urged calm.

Click here for the report. 

Children of FDNY Member Who Died of 9/11-Related Illness Pitch His Product on 'Shark Tank'


Have some tissue nearby when you watch this report, which was published on YouTube on January 21.

With a Week Until Iowa, Bernie Sanders Campaign Tells Volunteers to Back Off Phone Calls

 
The Intercept_: The new guidance was shared with top volunteers on Saturday, and provided by a volunteer to The Intercept, which independently confirmed its authenticity. The move away from phone-banking comes as Sanders is surging in the polls in Iowa, New Hampshire, and nationally and is explained in a detailed memo sent via Slack to campaign volunteers by Claire Sandberg, the campaign’s national organizing director. The directive applies to volunteers who live in states that vote in March, which together make up more than half the country.

Click here for the full report. 

Two More New Yorkers Identified for Novel Coronavirus Testing


Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced an update on the status of testing for the Novel Coronavirus in New York State, after the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed five cases in the United States. 

"While there have been no confirmed cases in New York State, as of today our Department of Health has sent samples for nine individuals to CDC for testing; four of these samples have proven negative and five results are still pending," Governor Cuomo said. "These five individuals remain in isolation as their samples are tested at CDC. While the risk for New Yorkers is currently low, we are still working to keep everyone informed, prepared and safe."

For more information on New York State's continued response to Novel Coronavirus, click here

Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo 

U.S. Surveillance Aircraft Crashes in Afghanistan



CBS News: The Taliban is claiming it shot down a U.S. surveillance aircraft in Afghanistan, but the Pentagon says there were no signs of enemy fire before the crash of the Bombardier E-11A. CBS News senior foreign correspondent Elizabeth Palmer joins CBSN with the latest.

Donald Trump Welcomes Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House

(Full Coverage)

Global News: President Donald Trump held back-to-back meetings Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his chief challenger Benny Gantz ahead of the unveiling of the U.S. administration's much-anticipated plan to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The meetings come just a month before Netanyahu and Gantz are set to face off in national elections for the third time in less than a year and amid much speculation over whether the plan has any chance for success since the Palestinians haven't been consulted and have preemptively rejected any proposal from a White House it considers biased toward Israel.


Palestinian Prime Minister: 'We Call on the International Community Not to Be Partners in This Plan"

Holocaust Memorial: The 75th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz (Full Coverage)

Segments of the event are in English.

Click on the photos to increase their size.

Governor Andrew Cuomo Attends Commemoration 

Earlier today, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo attended the official commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. The Governor joined world leaders as the only U.S. elected official to attend the official commemoration events.

"The official commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau was a somber, yet powerful reminder of what the Jewish people have gone through and what they are still going through today," Governor Cuomo said. "The horrific rash of anti-Semitism we are experiencing in our State and across the nation is disgusting and repugnant our values as New Yorkers and Americans, and because of it another generation of young people are experiencing the discrimination, hatred and pain that they've read about in history books. New York is home to the largest Jewish community outside of Israel. We must continue to speak out and fight back against these abhorrent acts of hate whenever and wherever we see them, and we must vow to never let what happened to the 6 million Jewish people during the Holocaust happen again." 

Source: The Office of Governor Andrew Cuomo

Senator Schumer Urges HHS to Declare Public Formal Health Emergency for the Coronavirus


New Infections in Arizona, California Bring Number of US Cases to 5

This report was published on YouTube on January 26.

With 130-Mile Coast, New Jersey Marks a First in Climate Change Fight


The New York Times: Builders will be forced to take climate change, including rising sea levels, into account to win government approval for projects.

Click here for the report.

Free Tax-Filing Sites for 2020 Tax Season


Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced the opening of the 2020 personal income tax filing season along with a dozen free tax filing assistance sites across New York State. Taxpayers who earned $69,000 or less in 2019 are eligible to file both their federal and New York State income tax returns at these locations at no cost. Eligible taxpayers may also conveniently prepare and file their returns for free by using tax preparation software available through the NYS Tax Department's website.

"This valuable free service ensures that hardworking New Yorkers receive all the beneficial tax credits and deductions they may have otherwise overlooked," Governor Cuomo said. "I encourage all New Yorkers who qualify to take advantage of this free resource and file before the April deadline."

Free Tax Assistance Sites Across New York State

If your income is $69,000 or less, you're eligible to file your federal and state taxes at one of the Tax Department's free tax assistance sites across the state. Tax Department experts will be on hand to guide you through the tax preparation and filing software. At certain locations, they can assist taxpayers in multiple languages, including Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Urdu.

See free tax assistance sites for a list of locations and the necessary documents to bring with you.

The IRS and AARP also offer free tax filing services at locations statewide. If your income is $55,000 or less, AARP volunteers and certified IRS volunteers will help you prepare both federal and state returns at no cost. To locate volunteers near you, visit the IRS VITA information page.

Free Online Filing Options

Eligible taxpayers can access and use the same free software available at filing sites anytime from their computer, smartphone, or tablet at https://www.tax.ny.gov/.

Taxpayers can click Free File on the Tax Department website to be directed to the tax preparation software. Using the software can reduce filing errors that delay return processing and refunds. It also helps ensure that taxpayers claim all the credits they deserve.

To ensure you're not charged a fee for the tax preparation software, you must come through the Tax Department to complete your return.

E-filing is the best option. It's safer and more efficient than sending paper returns through the mail. About 92% of all personal income tax returns in New York State are electronically prepared and filed. All returns, regardless of how they're filed, undergo the same systematic review.

New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Michael Schmidt said, "Millions of New Yorkers qualify to file their personal income tax returns for free at sites statewide or from the convenience of their homes online—saving preparation fees, preventing costly errors, and ensuring they receive any refund they're owed in the most efficient way."

New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Mike Hein said, "Free tax assistance and free tax filing services allow low-income New Yorkers to avoid the unnecessary costs of using a paid preparer, while making sure they receive all the tax credits they deserve. These tax credits, especially the Earned Income Tax Credit, can provide thousands of dollars to eligible tax filers, significantly boosting their household budget."

Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo 

Education in New York: A Revolutionary Rezoning Plan to Increase School Diversity


Initiative Would Also Bring in More
Funding and Make Parents’ Lives Easier

By Alina Adams

New York City General Education public school Kindergarten applications for 2020 were due on Tuesday, January 21. At the last minute, the Department of Education extended the deadline to Sunday, January 26. It was absolutely, positively not due to technical glitches with the very expensive MySchools Parent Portal. (For tips on how to circumvent the technical glitches that absolutely, positively did not happen, go to the Comments section of this post.)

In the weeks leading up to the ultimately missed deadline, I received dozens of emails from parents asking if they could opt for the school closer to their work, rather than the one closer to their home, because it would make drop-off and pick up more convenient. I explained that while families could rank any 12 schools in NYC on their application, priority went to children who lived in the zone, then to those who lived in the district, then borough, then citywide. (For more tips on strategic ranking, watch the video, below.)


Click here
for the full article. 

Source: New York School Talk  

Sunday, January 26, 2020

The Coronavirus: Seven Individuals Total Have Been Identified for Testing in New York

 
Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced New York State's latest efforts to prepare and respond to the outbreak of a novel coronavirus in China, after the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now confirms three cases in the United States. While there have been no confirmed cases in New York State, as of today, the New York State Department of Health has sent seven total cases to CDC for testing.  Three of those cases have been proven negative, while four results are still pending.  Those four individuals remain in isolation as their cases are tested at CDC.

"While the experts still believe the risk of catching this novel coronavirus is currently low in New York, I want all New Yorkers to know we are prepared and continue to take all necessary steps to keep people informed and safe," Governor Cuomo said. "I have directed the Department of Health and other state agencies to continue working closely with the CDC, the World Health Organization, our local and federal government partners, and New York's healthcare providers to ensure we stay ahead of this situation."  

With travelers expected to begin returning to the US this week from Lunar New Year celebrations in China, the New York State Department of Health (DOH) has begun working with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to post multilingual signage about the virus at all four Port Authority international airports. DOH is also working with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to place informational signage on subways and busses.

Information about the novel coronavirus is available here.

Click here for the full announcement. 

Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo