Senate Confirms LGBTQ-Rights Opponent to Judgeship

by Brooke Sopelsa

The Senate on Tuesday voted to confirm Kyle Duncan to serve on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, which covers Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. While several Republicans and conservatives applauded Duncan, a lawyer nominated by Presidential Donald Trump, a number of Democrats and liberal advocacy groups slammed him as “unfit” and “extreme."

Democrats questioned whether Duncan could be an impartial arbitrator given the cases he had worked on, which include defending a North Carolina voter ID law, fighting a contraceptive mandate in the Affordable Care Act and defending Louisiana’s ban on same-sex marriage.

Click here for the full article. 

Source: NBC News 

A Little Reminder for the TODAY Show....from 'The G-Man'

You know what they say about karma, right? Right!?

Macron in Washington: Can He Change Trump's Foreign Policy?

Source: FRANCE 24 English

White House Press Briefing

Source: The White House

New York to Take Part in First Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium

Six states, including New York, will bring together top researchers to undertake significant new research on all manners of gun violence, data collection and analysis.

Click here for the full announcement. 

Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

Former Dominican Republic President To Visit Bronx County

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

By Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz

District 18 Bronx County, New York

You should know that on April 26, at 8:30 a.m., the former President of the Dominican Republic, the Hon. Leonel Fernandez Reyna, will be visiting Bronx County.  

The purpose of his visit is to have a breakfast dialogue with members of the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization, which is chaired by yours truly.

Fernandez, at my invitation, will address about 150 pastors and ministers at Maestro's Caterers, 1703 Bronxdale Avenue in the Bronx.

President Fernandez is also scheduled to meet with the Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. and Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, Chairman of the Bronx Democratic Party.

For more information contact Rev. Samaris Gross at (347) 613-1491.

I am Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz and this is what you should know.

Governor Cuomo Issues Cease And Desist Letter To ICE

Source: NYGovCuomo

How the NYPD Union Is Manufacturing Outrage About a 70-Year-Old Black Panther’s Parole

By Natasha Lennard

Judging by tabloid headlines appearing on New York City newsstands, it might appear as though hundreds of thousands of people object to the release of former Black Panther Herman Bell from prison. That’s how many letters, the tabloids proclaim, were written in protest of the New York State Parole Board’s decision last month to release the 70-year-old prisoner, after 45 years behind bars.

“367,000 reasons not to parole cop-killer Herman Bell,” pronounced a New York Post editorial, noting that “more than 367,000 online letters were sent to the state Board of Parole following its recent decision to release cop killer Herman Bell.” The city’s other big tabloid, the New York Daily News, cited the same figure, attributing it to the New York City Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association.

That sounds like an awful lot of people, but it’s not. Neither tabloid bothers to clarify that this figure in no way represents 367,000 individual people writing in protest of Bell’s release. In fact, the huge number of letters was automatically generated by fewer that 6,000 individual complaints made via the NYC PBA website.

Click here for the full article.

Source: The Intercept_

Activists Demand Release of Manuel Duran, Prominent Latino Journalist in Memphis Jailed by ICE

Source: Democracy Now!

My Truth About Being a Black Man and a Black Cop

By Ronald Davis

As more and more shootings of unarmed black men and women are brought to the public’s attention, I understand the distrust that many ― especially people of color ― have against police. As a black man, I’ve been on the receiving end of profiling and discrimination. As a father to black children, I’ve had to have “the talk” with them about how to conduct themselves in encounters with law enforcement to make sure they leave with their lives. But I’m also a cop, and I know this job is dangerous and difficult and it comes with its share of fair and unfair scrutiny.

I’ve spent the last 30 years reconciling these unique and conflicting identities. This effort was not without its struggle. I’ve tried to change the perspectives of people and officers around me, I’ve denied that I had differing perspectives of my own, I’ve tried to balance each identity and fit them into a safe — often false — narrative. All of these efforts failed.

Through these experiences, and those of so many officers and people of color, I’ve come to realize that the only way to reconcile these perspectives is to accept each experience and the truth they represent, and to allow them to co-exist. So, here are my truths.

Click here for the full commentary.

Source: The Huffington Post

Supreme Court Hears Oral Argument in Travel Ban Case

Click here for audio.

Source: C-SPAN

Facebook, Google Roll Out Changes Ahead of European Union's GDPR Privacy Rules

Source: CBS News

Republican Debbie Lesko Wins Arizona's Special Election

Source: CBS News

Governor Cuomo Issues Letter to Senator Felder

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today issued the following letter to Senator Simcha Felder.

Dear Senator Felder,

Given Shelley Mayer's victory in yesterday's Senate special election, your decision on Senate leadership is now pivotal. There are now 32 registered Democratic Senators forming a majority Democratic Conference. The IDC has unified, and while I understand that you conference as a Republican and run on multiple lines, you are registered as a Democrat. I strongly urge you to join the 31 other registered Democrats so we can enact meaningful legislation that will continue our state's progress at this most critical political time.

There is a new Democratic movement in this state and a new Democratic Senate Conference. We have come a long way. The New York Democratic Party is a new model of Democratic leadership. In this state, Democrats are no longer about just offering dreams but a party of dreamers and doers - a powerful combination. We have articulated a different vision for our state and we have delivered on it. We have credibility with the public because we didn't offer only words, but matched our words with actions. We have made this state the most progressive state in the nation as a matter of aspiration and reality. No state rivals our record on social progress or government accomplishment.

There is much to be proud of, but with a Democratic Senate, we could do even more. There are issues we need to address that the Republicans in the Senate refused to act upon or even bring to the floor for a vote. Not only is it a wasted opportunity to move the state forward, but by refusing to bring issues up for a vote New Yorkers don't even know where the legislators stand. 

Click here to read the letter in its entirety.

Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

DNC Statement on Democratic Victories in New York Special Elections

On April 24, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez released the following statement: 

“Congratulations to New York state Senators-Elect Shelley Mayer and Luis Sepulveda, and to all the newly elected Democratic New York state Assembly members. The voters of New York have spoken. Not only did Democrats flip one state Assembly seat, we also won two state Senate races that we need to give us the majority in the New York state Senate and put us one step closer to shifting the balance of power in a legislative chamber that has been controlled by Republicans for the better part of 80 years. Working families in New York want leaders who will fight for the issues that matter to them. They know Democrats have their back, and tonight is further proof that when we organize and lead with our values, we’re unstoppable.

“The DNC was proud to invest $100,000 in the New York Democratic Party (NYDP) through the State Party Innovation Fund (SPIF) to help expand the party’s efforts to engage and organize voters around the state. The state party has already leveraged this increased organizing capacity to lift up Shelley Mayer and start building the support we need to keep winning up and down the ballot in 2018. We look forward to working with the NYDP to keep organizing and electing Democrats across the state.”

Source: The Office of Assemblyman Michael Blake (District 79)

Judge Won't Return After Berating Inmate Who Later Died

A Florida judge will not return to the bench after a video captured her angry exchange with a frail inmate in a wheelchair. Earlier this month, Circuit Court Judge Merrilee Ehrlich snapped at 59-year-old Sandra Twiggs as she explained her ailments and breathing treatments.Twiggs died a few days later.

Source: CBS News 

Jurors Begin Deliberating in Bill Cosby's Sexual Assault Retrial

Source: CBS News

French President Macron Addresses a Joint Session of Congress

Veterans Community Doesn't Know Where VA Nominee Ronny Jackson Stands on Key Issues

Source: PBS NewsHour

US Carmakers Fear Losing Business in China

DRC's New Opposition Leader Strives to Unite Party

Ghana, Kenya and Malawi to Pilot World's First Malaria Vaccine

Germany and USA Far Apart on Trade

Source: euronews.

Iran Threatens to Withdraw from Nuclear Weapons Treaty

Source: euronews.

Mayor de Blasio Makes Announcement About Education

Source: NYC Mayor's Office

City Lying About Safety at Shelters By Undercounting ‘Critical Incidents’

By Greg B. Smith

The de Blasio administration claims in its official report on homeless shelter safety that in 2017 there were zero cases of drug possession, drug sales or drug use inside the Bedford-Atlantic Armory shelter in Crown Heights.

Zero.

This statistic was a big surprise to the Department of Homeless Services police who are assigned to enforce order inside and around the sprawling Brooklyn shelter — one of the biggest in the city.

Internal crime reports obtained by the Daily News show that Homeless Services Department police responded to 113 narcotics-related incidents at the armory last year. During that time they made 51 narcotics-related arrests — an average of about one a week.

Click here for the full article. 

Source: The New York Daily News (via Empire Report New York) 

City Worker: Controller Axed Me for Calling Out Political Motives

Comptroller Scott Stringer

By James Fanelli

A longtime employee at the city controller's office said he was demoted and ultimately fired because he raised a stink about Comptroller Scott Stringer quickly settling legal claims for political reasons.

Emilio Gonzalez, the onetime chief of the property damage division at the controller's office, filed a lawsuit against the city last August, saying his bosses told him to just go with the flow after he raised concerns that claim examiners paid out claims without due diligence.

“It was clear to Gonzalez that they wanted cases disposed of, not based on merit but upon political considerations which made the comptroller look good in the eyes of the public and his political supporters,” the lawsuit said.

Click here for the full article.  

Source: The New York Daily News (via Empire Report New York) 

Loeb Donates $15 Million to Success Academy for High Schools

Dan Loeb with Success parent Natasha Shannon and Raymond McGuire

By Amanda L Gordon 

Activist investor Dan Loeb isn’t backing down.

Loeb, who has angered teacher’s unions and politicians for supporting charter schools, is giving $15 million to Success Academy, its founder Eva Moskowitz said Monday night at a benefit for the New York network of 46 schools. The gift from the foundation that he created with his wife will establish the Loeb Fund to Reimagine the American High School.

“Several years ago, Margaret and I recognized that for our students to excel in college and beyond, Success Academy had to develop an entirely new model for public high school," Loeb, 56, founder of Third Point LLC, said in a statement.

Click here for the full article. 

Source: BloombergMarkets (via Empire Report New York) 

Unemployment Rate Rises in Central New York

By Rick Moriarty

Syracuse, N.Y. -- The unemployment rate in the Syracuse area rose to 5.6 percent in March, from 5.2 percent in the same month last year.

The state unemployment rate also rose, from 4.7 percent in March of 2017 to 4.8 percent last month. The national unemployment rate fell to 4.1 percent, from 4.6 percent in March last year.

According to the state Department of Labor, there were 17,000 people unemployed in the Syracuse metropolitan area (Madison, Onondaga and Oswego counties) in March, an increase of 9,000 from the same month last year. At the same time, the number of employed residents fell from 292,000 to 285,100.

The area's civilian labor force - the total number of people working or looking for work - has been shrinking. It fell from 308,100 in March of 2017 to 302,000 last month.

Click here for the full article.

Source: syracuse.com (via Empire Report New York) 

Happening in Harlem - Black Gay Life: An Exploration of Blackness, Masculinity, and Sexual Identity

On April 26 at 6 p.m., an intergenerational conversation will be held about identity and how Black gay men live in triple consciousness — Black, gay and male. 

The free event will be moderated by Emil Wilbekin, Founder of Native Son, with Marc Meachem, ViiV Healthcare; André D. Singleton, The Very Black Project; Cakes da Killa, rapper and artist; and Myles E. Johnson, critic and author.

ViiV Healthcare, Native Son and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture are presenting the event.

Click here for additional information and to register. 

Source: The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

Urbanworld Film Festival Accepting Submissions

Urbanworld is still accepting submissions for its 22nd Annual Film Festival, which will be held from September 19 through 23, 2018. 

#MakeYourMark and submit today to avoid paying the extended deadline fees. #UW22 #Urbanworld

The regular deadline is April 27.  

Click here for additional information and to submit your work. 

Source: ImageNation

Starbucks 'Targeting' May Not Be Limited to the United States

Starbucks Employee Uses 'F' Words
Towards Black Customer During Tirade

This video was published on YouTube on September 18, 2017. 

On April 18, 2018, an update was posted on the user's channel stating the woman in this video is still employed with the company. The video, which was recorded at a Starbucks in Canada, has gone viral. The user has asked the Internet community to contact the corporate office and demand that action be taken against the employee.

From The G-Man is attempting to reach the man in the video to discuss this incident and claims that other employees have engaged in similar behavior. 

Source: Organic

UPDATE: April 25, 9:39 A.M. (EST) From The G-Man is in the process of trying to find out why the video for this report was removed from YouTube. The information will be published as soon as it becomes available.

DL Hughley on Police Chief Backtracking Starbucks Comments

This video was published on YouTube on April 20. 

Source: DL Hughley

Roland Martin To Trump, Hannity and Others Upset Over Cohen Raid: 'The Rule of Law Can’t Be Optional'

This video was published on YouTube on April 10. 

Source: Roland S. Martin

Greyhound Is Choosing To Let Border Patrol Demand Its Passengers’ Papers

By Elise Foley

Border Patrol officers routinely board buses without a warrant, without specific people they’re targeting, up to 100 miles from the border — and ask passengers for their papers. Greyhound, the nation’s largest intercity bus line, lets the Border Patrol do it and doesn’t plan to stop.

Greyhound officials say they’re just complying with the law. But 10 ACLU state affiliates argue Greyhound has the right — and the responsibility to its passengers — to demand a warrant for Border Patrol officers to board its buses.

They believe Greyhound could fight for its rights and win. But first they have to convince the company to try.

“The starting place is to not give your consent,” said Jordan Wells, an attorney for the New York Civil Liberties Union. “If Border Patrol then says, ‘You know what, we actually don’t even need their consent, we’re going to just do this stuff,’ that would violate the Constitution. But we the public don’t get to have that conversation about whether this is constitutional when Greyhound gives away the game by just saying, ‘We consent, so it’s OK.’” 

Click here for the full article. 

Source: The Huffington Post 

'To Change the Church' Offers Critical Look at Pope Francis' Leadership

Source: CBS News

Net Neutrality All But Officially Dead

This report was published on YouTube on April 23.

Source: CBS News

President George H.W. Bush Hospitalized Days After Wife's Funeral

British Government Stumbles to Third Lords Defeat in Less Than a Week

Source: euronews.

Canada Shocked by Worst Act of Violence in Years After Van Driven Into Toronto Crowds Kills 10

Source: euronews.